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Jewish Breaking News

AVIATION BREAKTHROUGH: Israel Doubles Flight Capacity as Ben Gurion Eases Wartime Restrictions

Apr 5, 2026·2 min read

Israel is significantly expanding outbound travel from Ben Gurion Airport, with new measures taking effect immediately that sharply increase both passenger capacity and flight frequency.

Starting today, the cap on passengers per departing flight has been raised to 100, up from 80 just one day earlier—and double the strict 50-passenger limit imposed during the Passover period. The rapid escalation reflects a clear shift in policy as authorities begin scaling back emergency aviation restrictions.

TOPSHOT – Members of Israeli security services inspect a crater near a road outside Israel’s Ben Gurion airport after a missile launched from Yemen struck the area on May 4, 2025. A missile launched from Yemen struck near Israel’s main international airport on May 4, Israeli authorities said, an attack that briefly halted air traffic and triggered threats of retaliation. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

In a further major step, the Transportation Ministry has approved plans to double the number of departures per hour, increasing from one flight per hour to two beginning this weekend. Combined with the higher passenger cap, this is expected to dramatically boost the number of Israelis able to leave the country each day.

Officials say the changes were approved following a fresh security assessment led by Transportation Minister Miri Regev, with additional increases already under consideration. Authorities are reportedly aiming to raise capacity even further in the coming days, depending on evolving conditions.

A fireball rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Qasmiyeh bridge, located on a main highway linking villages in the Tyre district with others further north, after Israel said the bridge was being used by Hezbollah, in southern Lebanon on March 22, 2026. Israel’s military struck a key bridge in south Lebanon on Sunday, an AFP correspondent said, after Israel’s defence minister said the army had been ordered to destroy more bridges over the Litani River. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2, when pro-Iran Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel in response to US-Israeli strikes that killed Iranian supreme leader on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP via Getty Images) /

The move marks one of the most significant relaxations of wartime aviation limits since the latest escalation began, signaling growing confidence in managing ongoing security risks while restoring outbound travel flow.

View original on Jewish Breaking News