Beginning this Shabbos, Route 711 operated by the “Na’im Busofash” initiative will connect Shoham and Tel Aviv with a stop at Terminal 1 of Ben Gurion Airport — marking the first time a direct public transit route to the airport will operate on Shabbos.

Until now, even as flights continued to depart and land on Saturdays, travelers had no access to public buses or trains to reach the airport. But under the new arrangement, buses will stop at Terminal 1, where free shuttles operated by the Israel Airports Authority connect passengers to Terminal 3. Service will run every two to three hours, with 17 total trips each weekend, according to Tel Aviv officials.

The move represents the latest expansion of “Na’im Busofash,” a network launched in late 2019 by four municipalities to specifically provide transportation options on Shabbos. It previously included 13 municipalities, but Yehud-Monosson recently voted to withdraw from the program, leaving 12 local authorities funding the network.

Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Meital Lehavi, who oversees the city’s transportation portfolio, said the airport extension was made possible after Yehud-Monosson opted out. “At their last council meeting in Yehud, they decided not to continue with ‘Na’im Busofash,’ so we said there was an opportunity here to add a stop at the airport instead,” Lehavi said.

Tragically, the expansion comes as demand for transportation on Shabbos continues to rise. In 2025, “Na’im Busofash” recorded 1.8 million passengers across more than 44,000 trips, covering over 1 million kilometers. Ridership in 2026 is projected to increase by an additional 14 percent.

The broader backdrop is a longstanding policy gap. Since a 1991 amendment to Israel’s Traffic Ordinance granted the transportation minister authority to prohibit bus operations on Shabbos, most state-run bus and rail lines do not operate on Saturdays. Limited exceptions exist, primarily for routes licensed prior to the amendment or lines serving Arab communities or mixed cities.

In response, municipalities have increasingly stepped in. In Ramat Gan and Givatayim, the “Sababus” project provides free Shabbos routes. In Haifa and the Krayot region, the “Shabus” service operates under a similar model. Like “Na’im Busofash,” these initiatives are locally funded and free, allowing them to function without requiring formal licenses from the Transportation Ministry.

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