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

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.

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.