JERUSALEM (VINnews) — For the first time, free buses will connect Ben-Gurion Airport with Tel Aviv on Saturdays, city officials and a private transit company announced.

The service is run by Na’im Besofash, a private operator that serves multiple municipalities in Israel. The company added a stop at the airport on its line 711 to help travelers flying on Shabbat reach Tel Aviv more easily and affordably.

Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Meital Lehavi, who founded the company, said the expansion is meant to meet “a basic, social, and equitable need” and is not intended as a political statement. She also thanked Shoham Mayor Dafna Rabinowitz for allowing the route adjustment.

Shabbat public transportation has long been controversial in Israel, with many religious residents opposing travel on the day of rest. Private operators have increasingly filled the gap for secular Israelis seeking weekend travel options.

Lehavi described the new airport route as “a milestone in freedom of movement,” emphasizing that local authorities are stepping in where government services are limited. The company has previously introduced special bus services during Jewish holidays and plans to continue expanding Shabbat routes across the country.