Tel Aviv, Israel (May 20, 2026)
Israeli officials currently expect Ben Gurion Airport to remain operational even if fighting with Iran resumes, marking a major shift from previous rounds of conflict in which the airport was shut down shortly after hostilities began.
According to Israeli media reports, the assessment is based on a significant decline in Iran’s missile-launch capabilities following recent fighting. During earlier rounds, including the 12-day war and Operation “Roar of the Lion,” Iran began with large missile barrages that forced Israel to quickly close its airspace and halt regular airport activity.
Current assessments indicate that Iran may no longer be capable of launching the same type of large-scale salvos. Instead of waves of dozens or even around 100 missiles, Israeli officials believe Iran may now be limited to smaller launches, possibly in the range of 10 to 15 missiles at a time.
As a result, Ben Gurion Airport is currently expected to continue operating if renewed hostilities break out, though officials stressed that the policy would be reassessed constantly based on the security situation. Any major change in the scale of attacks, missile accuracy, air-defense needs, or risk to civilian aviation could still lead to restrictions or closure.
Israeli airlines are expected to continue flying under security guidance if the airport remains open. Foreign carriers, however, are widely expected to act more cautiously. Many international airlines that recently resumed service to Israel could again suspend flights if tensions escalate, even if Israeli authorities keep the airport open.
The issue remains critical for travelers, as previous airport closures left thousands stranded abroad and sharply reduced available flights in and out of the country.
For now, the working assumption is that Israel will try to preserve air connectivity as long as safety conditions allow, while maintaining flexibility to impose limits if the threat level changes.