In Israel, airports are divided into military and civil. There are also small airstrips owned by private clubs and hubs used for agriculture. There are only four international airports in the country (which is not so small, based on the modest size of the state). Israel's air gate in the south is Eilat's Ovda. It is located directly in the city. Currently, work is underway to build a new terminal on the site of a military air base. The Haifa hub is located at a distance of five kilometers from the city center, near the seaport. But you can also drive up to it by city bus (No. 58). The hub mainly accepts domestic flights and charters to neighboring northern countries: Jordan, Cyprus, Turkey. In this article, we will look at Tel Aviv airports: Ben Gurion and Sde Dov. The latter must be closed within two years.
Sde-Dov
The Hebrew phrase שדה התעופה דב literally translates as "Dova Airfield". The hub is located right on the coast, almost on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea, and when landing from the porthole, simply charming pictures appear. But the airport, named after Israeli aviation pioneer Oz Dov, doesn't handle many flights. Basically, these are aircraft fromEilat and the occupied territories. At the height of the tourist season, some charters and low-cost flights land on it. But if you are flying to Israel and wondering which Tel Aviv airports will take your flight, then 95 percent out of a hundred it will be Ben Gurion. And from July 2016, the chances of Israel's main airport will increase to 100%, since a decision has already been made to eliminate Sde Dov. Land in the immediate vicinity of the capital is too expensive. Therefore, the Sde Dov terminals will be destroyed, and residential areas and shopping centers will be built on the site of the runways.
Tel Aviv: Ben Gurion Airport
Officially, the hub is called Ben Gurion International Airport. It was built back in 1936, when Israel as a state did not even exist. The first terminal and runway were built by the British authorities. At first, the airport was called "Lydda". In 1948 it was renamed Lod. This is the name of the town in the south-east of the capital, near which the terminal is located. On December 1, 1973, Israel's first Prime Minister died. His name was David Ben-Gurion. Local authorities have decided that all airports in Tel Aviv should bear the names of prominent citizens. So the Lod hub was renamed Ben Gurion, and it retains this name to this day. It is clear that the airport has been repeatedly rebuilt, expanded and modernized since 1936. Not so long ago, ten years ago, the third terminal was opened. It fully meets the requirements for a modern air gateway to the country.
Where is Ben Gurion located
Airport on the mapis located eleven kilometers southeast of Tel Aviv, near the town of Lod. This hub accepts both international and domestic flights. If you arrive in the capital of Israel in transit, in order to travel around the country, please note that the terminal that receives aircraft on the route from Tel Aviv to Haifa, Eilat, Jerusalem and other cities is located four kilometers from the international one. Free shuttles run between them. However, they do not have a clear schedule and are adjusted to the arrival of passengers from Eilat. Thus, the bus can wait from ten minutes to half an hour. But from Jerusalem to get to Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion Airport) is easier than ever. The hub is adjacent to highway number one. If you go to the capital with the Egged bus company, then one of the stops will be at the airport.
How to get to the city
What is the fastest way to get to Tel Aviv? Of course, take advantage of the train service. The station, from which high-speed trains and trains depart, is located in terminal number 3, one floor below the arrivals hall. A ticket to the center costs 14 shekels ($4). It must be kept until the exit from the final station - there will be an electronic turnstile. Do not forget that in this country they honor the Sabbath day. The station is open 24/7 only from Sunday to Thursday. On Friday it closes at 16.00 and opens only the next day at 21.15. Buses are a convenient alternative to trains. But first you need to get on route number 5 to the stop "Ben Gurion Airport - City". And from there alreadycity buses leave. Thus, you can get to other settlements in Israel - Jerusalem, Haifa. The minibus stop is located next to the exit from the third terminal. Traveling in this mode of transport is not much different from the bus in price. But the driver will take you right to the door of the hotel. On Shabbat day, the only way to get to the city is by taxi. The fare will cost 150 shekels. Travel time is about twenty minutes.
General information
The first thing that meets foreigners arriving in Tel Aviv is Ben Gurion Airport. This is a kind of visiting card of the country, because the first impressions of it begin here. The tense political situation affects everywhere, and even more so at the main airport of the capital. You will immediately catch the eye of a group of military men with uncovered machine guns. These are IDF policemen and soldiers. And then there are private security firms, some in uniform and others in civilian clothes. Passing through security control may take longer than at another airport. And this must be taken into account when you are in a hurry for a flight. But the airport was recognized as the most protected hub in the world from terrorist attacks. He was repeatedly subjected to them, but all attempts to take the plane or the hostages were unsuccessful.
Airport Structure: Terminal 1
This is the oldest part of the hub, rebuilt several times since 1936. The current appearance of the terminal was acquired in the nineties of the twentieth century. Until 2004 heserved almost all flights arriving from abroad. And if you are looking for Ben Gurion Airport, the photo will show exactly this terminal. There are duty free shops, VIP lodges and even a synagogue. But after the opening of the newest terminal number 3, the first and oldest lost its leadership. Now he receives government flights, and also works for domestic passenger transport (to Eilat, Ein Yahav and Rosh Pina). Charter flights also land here, mainly from Turkey. With the closure of Sde Dova airport, this hall will also serve low-cost passengers.
Terminal 2
It was built in the late nineties of the last century, when No. 1 could no longer cope with the huge passenger traffic. But only check-in for flights and passport control worked there. Passengers then moved by internal bus to the terminal building No. 1, where there were equipped waiting rooms, and waited for boarding the flight there. Since Tel Aviv airports do not have a dedicated hub for mail and baggage aircraft, it was decided to open one at site number 2. Now this building is being rebuilt to meet the needs of UPS.
Terminal 3
It was inaugurated in 2004 and completely overshadowed all the others. Five lounges, free Wi-Fi, excellent information service, comfortable treadmills and escalators - all this has made Terminal 3 the best in terms of "passenger satisfaction". Of particular note is the work of duty-free. The purchased goods can be left in the free storage room of the store and, if you arriveback to Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion), take it again. Since 2007, hotel rooms have been under construction right next to the terminal.
