The Israel Airports Authority released passenger traffic data for June 2026 on Sunday, revealing encouraging numbers for Israeli travelers after Ben Gurion Airport faced a crisis in passenger volume and airline operations following the war.
2+The data shows Ben Gurion’s continued recovery and gradual return to normal operations. After months when foreign airline activity was significantly impacted, more carriers are resuming routes to and from Israel, with flight volumes steadily increasing.
In June, Ben Gurion Airport handled about 1.69 million passengers—more than double the roughly 830,000 passengers recorded in June 2025. The upward trend is expected to continue, with July passenger traffic projected to reach about 2.3 million.
By carrier, El Al continued to dominate the market by a significant margin. In June, the airline flew more than 737,000 passengers, accounting for about 43% of total traffic. Israir followed with more than 229,000 passengers (about 13%), Arkia with more than 208,000 passengers (about 12%), and low-cost carrier Wizz Air with about 87,000 passengers (about 5%).
2+The first-half numbers tell a similar story: El Al led with about 2.7 million passengers, roughly 44% of all travelers. Israir ranked second with more than 640,000 passengers (about 10%), Arkia with more than 605,000 passengers (about 9%), and Wizz Air with about 405,000 passengers (about 6%). Wizz Air’s figures reflect the fact that the carrier suspended operations in Israel from late February through early June, only resuming flights afterward.
For destinations, the top choices for Israelis in June were Greece, the United States, Cyprus, and Italy. Looking at the period from the start of the year through June, the countries that drew the most Israeli travelers were Greece, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, and Cyprus. At the city level, Israeli preferences are equally clear: in June, the most popular destinations were Athens, Larnaca, New York, and Dubai. From the start of the year through June, Athens, Dubai, Larnaca, and New York topped the list.
2+The data points to a significant shift from the period when Ben Gurion operated at reduced capacity, indicating that demand for international flights is gradually returning. Still, the Israeli aviation market remains in recovery mode, with the full return of additional foreign carriers and increased flight supply expected to continue affecting prices, competition, and ticket availability in the coming months.