Ben Gurion terminals. Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport. Train from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv
Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv is an international air hub, considered the main air hub of the country. Geographically located in the very center of Israel, and 15 kilometers from Tel Aviv. It owes its name to the country's first prime minister, Ben-Gurion. The history of Tel Aviv air harbor begins in the early 30s of the twentieth century. Since its foundation, it has been considered a progressively developing and prosperous aviation enterprise in its country. Over the years of operation, it has been repeatedly repaired and reconstructed. Due to active operation in the 90s, a decision was made to build another terminal No. 3, since the existing one could not cope with the passenger flow passing at that time.
As of today, it is the safest airport in the whole world. Terrorist acts were repeatedly stopped thanks to the coordinated work of the state police and private security companies.
Over the years of its existence, Ben-Gurion has deservedly received the status of the best airport in the Middle East many times.
- 7015001, Israel
The most common address in English is: P.O.Box 137, Ben-Gurion Airport, 7015001
Online scoreboard
You can view the flight schedule at Tel Aviv Airport on the online arrivals and departures board:
How to get from Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion Airport
You can get from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv and back by public transport: bus, train, shuttle, taxi.
Bus
Traveling by bus is not as convenient as traveling by train or taxi, as you will have to change trains. The bus station is located at exits 21 and 23 from the third terminal. Bus number 5 goes to a stop called El Al Junction, and from here you can take bus number 249 to the city. Tickets are also required when traveling. You can find a suitable route.
Train
Trains stop right here in Terminal 3, on the lowest level. To travel, it is necessary to purchase a ticket, which can be purchased both at the box office and in special machines. The cost of a train from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv is 16 shekels ($4), to Jerusalem - 20 shekels ($5), to Netanya - 24.5 shekels ($6), to Haifa - 35.5 shekels ($8 ). You can get to Tel Aviv by train in 15 minutes, but this type of transport has one drawback - it does not go to all directions. Don't throw away your tickets, as there are turnstiles at the exit. You can view the train schedule and ticket prices (information in Russian).
Minibus
On par with the train, the convenience of getting from/to Tel Aviv airport can be compared to the minibus (moniyot sherut). Minibuses run around the clock and stop wherever tourists request. Minibuses depart from the airport only when the cabin is filled with passengers. The journey to Tel Aviv will take approximately 20-30 minutes, the ticket price is 30-40 shekels.
Taxi
A taxi at Tel Aviv Airport must be ordered through a dispatcher: in Terminal 3 on level G, at Gate 3, and in Terminal 1 - next to Gate 3. The cost of a trip to the city center will be about 130-150 shekels.
Transfer
And of course, the most convenient option is pre-ordered. Upon arrival, a driver with a name plate and a car of the selected class will be waiting for you. The disadvantage is the cost, which is significantly higher than the cost of traveling by public transport, but the comfort is worth it.
Ben Gurion Airport terminals: Tel Aviv Airport diagram
The modern airport consists of four terminals - the first is used quite rarely, as an auxiliary terminal, during periods of overload. The second is intended for air cargo transportation. The third is considered the main one, recently built, so it is here that international flights are received and departed. The fourth is designed for use only in emergency situations. For the convenience of travelers, a free bus constantly runs around the airport terminal, ensuring trouble-free movement between terminals.
Terminal 1 and 3
Additional services
The additional services offered by Ben Gurion Airport are very diverse. A huge network of different stores offering a dizzying selection of goods. Mother and child room, first aid station, luggage storage. A network of restaurants and cafes that can satisfy any gastronomic wishes of visitors, as well as everyone’s favorite Duty Free and Tax Free.
Duty Free at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport
Duty Free is the shopping area at Ben Gurion Airport. This is where you can buy world-famous Israeli cosmetics and elite alcohol, chocolates and clothing, gifts and souvenirs for family and friends at significantly lower prices than outside the airport. The range of products offered is of high quality, variety and low cost.
The low price of the goods sold is due to the lack of amount collected as government tax. In addition, thanks to constant promotions and numerous sales, the purchase price becomes several times lower than the price offered in the city for a unit of an identical product. Don’t think that you can’t buy quality products for that kind of money, that’s not true. Each item sold is accompanied by more than one certificate of conformity, which is the main document confirming its quality. You can often go to a tasting of various goods - food, perfumes, alcoholic beverages.
Car rental at Ben Gurion Airport
If your trip involves a large volume of varied trips and trips around Tel Aviv and neighboring cities, then the best choice of transportation method would be car rental. At the airport itself, several offices will be able to offer a similar service. Unfortunately, as practice shows, renting in this way is many times more expensive than renting via the Internet. This is due to the fact that Americans and Europeans have long been using the practice of ordering rental cars in this way, having managed to book the most profitable options long before the trip itself.
Tax Free at Tel Aviv Airport
Israel's Ben Gurion Airport offers tax free refunds. This is the possibility of returning VAT for purchased commodity items for personal use, exported abroad, for example to Russia. If you want to get it, you need to adhere to some mandatory requirements. Tax free is refunded only for certain groups of goods, such as cosmetics or diamonds. In general, you need to look for the VAT REFUND icon on store windows. The check presented must be no less than 4,000 Russian rubles. Purchases shown upon receipt of money must be presented in their original form, otherwise the transaction will not take place. Another important point is that you need to put a stamp on a special form issued in the store along with the check, without which the money will not be given back. After receiving the required stamp, you can check in your purchases as luggage, and then check in for your flight, go through border control, and check in your luggage. Refunds can be made in several ways: cash, bank transfers, card or check. When issuing the amount in hand, a commission of one and a half percent is required for receiving in cash. Also, the company involved in returns takes its share, so the amount in the check will be slightly larger than what was actually received.
Ben Gurion Airport information: help desk number
- +972 3-975-5555
- +972 3 937 11 11
Official site
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They are divided into military and civilian. There are also small airstrips owned by private clubs and hubs used for agricultural purposes. There are only four international airports in the country (which is not so few, considering the modest size of the state). The air gateway to Israel in the south is Eilat Ovda. It is located directly within the city. Work is currently underway to build a new terminal on the site of a military air base. The Haifa hub is located five kilometers from the city center, near the seaport. But you can also get to it by city bus (No. 58). The hub receives mainly 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 for 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 upon landing, simply enchanting pictures appear from the window. But the airport, named after Israeli aviation pioneer Oz Dov, doesn't handle many flights. These are mainly planes from Eilat and the occupied territories. During the peak tourist season, some charters and low-cost airlines land there. But if you are flying to Israel and wondering which airports in Tel Aviv will accept 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 the decision to liquidate Sde Dov has already been made. 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 in place of the runways.
Tel Aviv: Ben Gurion Airport
Officially, the hub is called Ben Gurion International Airport. It was built back in 1936, when there was no trace of Israel as a state. 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 southeast 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 decided that all Tel Aviv airports should be named after prominent citizens. So the Lod hub was renamed Ben-Gurion, and it still retains this name. It is clear that the airport has been rebuilt, expanded and modernized several times since 1936. Not so long ago, ten years ago, the third terminal opened. It fully meets the requirements for a modern air gateway to the country.
Where is Ben Gurion located?
The airport on the map is located eleven kilometers southeast of Tel Aviv, near the town of Lod. This hub receives both international and domestic flights. If you are arriving in transit with the aim of traveling around the country, you should take into account that the terminal that receives planes 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, you can wait for a bus from ten minutes to half an hour. But getting from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion Airport) is easy. The hub is adjacent to Highway 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, use the train service. The station from which high-speed trains and trains depart is located in terminal No. 3, one floor below the arrivals hall. A ticket to the center costs 14 shekels ($4). You need to save it until you leave the final station - there will be an electronic turnstile. Don't forget that this country honors the Sabbath. The station operates 24 hours a day 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 the train. But first you need to get on route No. 5 to the Ben Gurion City Airport stop. And from there city buses already leave. In this way you can get to other settlements in Israel - Jerusalem, Haifa. The minibus stop is located next to the exit from the third terminal. Travel in this type of transport is not much different from the bus in terms of price. But the driver will take you straight to the hotel door. On Shabbat, the only way to get to the city is by taxi. The journey will cost 150 shekels. Travel time is about twenty minutes.
general information
The first thing that greets foreigners arriving in Tel Aviv is Ben Gurion Airport. This is a kind of calling card of the country, because the first impressions of it begin here. The tense political situation is affecting everywhere, and even more so at the main airport of the capital. Groups of military men with unsheathed machine guns will immediately catch your eye. These are police officers and IDF soldiers. And then there are employees of private security firms, some in uniform and others in civilian clothes. Going through security may take longer than at other airports. And this needs to be taken into account when you are in a hurry to catch 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 seize the plane or hostages were unsuccessful.
Airport structure: terminal No. 1
This is the oldest part of the hub, having been rebuilt several times since 1936. The terminal acquired its current appearance in the nineties of the twentieth century. Until 2004, it served almost all flights arriving from abroad. And if you are looking for Ben Gurion Airport, the photo will show this particular terminal. There are duty-free shops, VIP boxes and even a synagogue. But after the opening of the newest terminal No. 3, the first and oldest lost its leadership. It now accepts government flights and also operates for domestic passenger transport (to Eilat, Ein Yahav and Rosh Pina). Charters also land here, mainly from Turkey. With the closure of Sde Dova airport, this lounge will also serve low-cost passengers.
Terminal No. 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 passport control worked there. Passengers then moved by internal bus to the building of terminal No. 1, where there were equipped waiting rooms, and waited to board 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 location No. 2. This building is now being rebuilt for the needs of UPS.
Terminal No. 3
It was inaugurated in 2004 and completely eclipsed all others. Five waiting rooms, free Wi-Fi, excellent information service, convenient moving walks and escalators - all this brought Terminal No. 3 the reputation of being the best in terms of “passenger satisfaction”. Of particular note is the duty free service. You can leave the purchased item in the store's free storage room and, if you arrive back in Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion), take it again. Since 2007, hotel rooms have been built directly next to the terminal.
Israel's main international airport, Ben Gurion International Airport, is located approximately 15 kilometers southeast of the center of Tel Aviv.
Coordinates: 32°00′N; 34°53′ E
Code: TLV
Mailing address: P.O. Box 7, Ben-Gurion Airport, 70100 Israel
Help desk phone number: +972 3 937 11 11
Ben Gurion Airport official website: www.iaa.gov.il
Ben Gurion Airport scoreboard online
Below is the schedule for Ben Gurion Airport. On the display you will see a schedule of departures and arrivals according to local time, points of departure and destination, flight numbers and airline names.
In addition, you can get information about flight schedules and prices for flights either on the page about tickets to Tel Aviv, or using the search form (for this you will have to enter the required information in the required fields):
How to get from Ben Gurion Airport to the city
Electric trains run regularly from Terminal 3 towards Tel Aviv (they go to alternate stations Tel Aviv Hagana, Tel Aviv HaShalom, Tel Aviv Savidor Merkaz and Tel Aviv University). The ticket price is 14 shekels; travel time is about 20 minutes.
Taxi from Ben Gurion Airport
You can take a taxi immediately outside the arrivals hall. A trip on it to the city will cost approximately 150 shekels (on Saturdays and on holidays - a little more). To order a taxi online, you should use the search form below:
Fill in the required fields and click Find. A list of transfer options from Ben Gurion Airport will open on a separate page. Having chosen the one that suits you, you can immediately place and pay for your order.
The diagram below is a map of the surrounding area of Tel Aviv Airport. To zoom in on the image, double-click with the left mouse button, and to remove it, click with the right mouse button.
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There is a menu at the top right of the image. By default, the "Maps" item opens. The “Satellite” item will allow you to see photos of the airport’s surroundings taken from space.
Map of Ben Gurion Airport
Ben Gurion has 3 terminals, between which shuttle buses run. The general layout of the airport is shown in the figure below:
Ladies and gentlemen!
The airport is the face of the country. But it is not enough to have a beautiful airport, it is necessary to have cultured and friendly people working there, and to have civilized relations. To my deep regret, I cannot say anything good about the employees of the border service and the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the airport. This is especially true for the latter. Disregarding, boorish, contemptuous attitude towards people coming to our country flourishes there quite often. People are subjected to humiliating searches, stripped almost naked, and this despite the fact that they and their luggage have already been repeatedly checked at X-ray facilities, both at the airport and in the country of origin. The events that happen every minute in this department cannot be adequately perceived by normal people. I spent all of last night at the airport waiting for my legal wife, but I never got there. Yes, she and I temporarily live in different countries, but she is not a citizen of Israel and flew to me for just one month so that we could spend at least a little time together and live with each other. Yes, my wife did not buy a return ticket in advance because anything can happen in life and we were counting on buying it here. My wife is a citizen of Ukraine. There is an official agreement between Israel and Ukraine on a visa-free regime, according to which any citizen of Ukraine and Israel can stay in the host country for up to 3 months and, moreover, after another 3 months they can come again. Everything else is speculation and unacceptable demands of specific employees of this department. My wife had with her: an official marriage certificate, a certificate of no criminal record, a certificate of change of surname, etc. but the employees of the internal affairs department demanded from her official permission from their ministry on the grounds that they believe that she flew in for accommodation. Actually this is not true. She did not fly here for permanent residence, we have all the conditions for living in Kyiv (apartment, cottage, cars) and our children also live in Kyiv. When asked by a representative of this department about the purpose of the arrival, my wife replied that she had arrived to visit her husband. This is a completely adequate and normal answer to this question. However, this answer did not satisfy the representatives of this department and new questions began to pour in: what is your husband’s name, how did you meet, when did you get married..... Didn’t it occur to you that these are purely personal and intimate questions, which in a civilized society are not generally It is customary to ask. Next, my wife was subjected to a humiliating search and all her luggage was gutted. As a result, two boxes of chocolates and a loaf of Borodino bread were confiscated. What, the above confiscated items are included in the list of goods prohibited for import????? My wife and about 20 other people from this flight were deported under escort (as criminals and terrorists) back to Ukraine. I will say more, such actions are carried out daily in relation to citizens of Ukraine and this is not my personal data, but the data of the Ukrainian border service, with whom my legal wife had the honor of talking upon arrival at Boryspil airport. To everyone reading this comment, I ask a simple question: if you or your relatives were in this place, how would you feel? Considering the country of residence, they would unanimously say that this is anti-Semitism. Respectable citizens cannot and should not be held responsible for certain actions of those in power. (in this particular case, I mean the protest vote of the Ukrainian authorities at the UN). The basis of democracy is civilized relations between people and it is impossible, without exception, to see in every citizen arriving in the country a terrorist, a drug addict, a prostitute, etc. I am bitter, hurt and offended for the authority of our country and for the fact that the authorities are not only unable to stop Such actions are fundamentally degrading to human dignity, but they are encouraged in every possible way.
Israel's main international airport is named after David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, an outstanding personality who played an important role in the formation and development of the Jewish state. It was he who proclaimed the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. The airport's third terminal building houses several sculptures of David Ben-Gurion.
According to the international encoding, the airport code is TLV (Tel Aviv). Yet, in fact, the airport is not located in Tel Aviv, but at a distance of about 20 km southeast of it, near the city of Lod, and Lod Airport was previously called that. The main operating terminals are currently terminals No. 1 and No. 3. Until recently, terminal No. 1 was the main one, since almost all international flights passed through it. However, in the 1990s, mass immigration of Jews from the former Soviet Union began. Direct flights with repatriates began to arrive at Tel Aviv airport, and the load on the airport increased significantly. Unable to cope with the increasing passenger and cargo traffic, the airport authorities began planning for the establishment of a new terminal capable of providing passengers with the best possible service. In 1994, the Israeli government decided to create a new terminal, and only five years later the first stone was laid in the construction of a modern terminal. And in 2004, the new international terminal No. 3 began operating, which became the main air gateway to Israel.
Terminal No. 3 of Ben Gurion Airport meets all modern requirements, both in the field of comfort and passenger service, and in terms of security. It is rightfully recognized as the safest airport, and the largest Israeli airline ElAl is one of the safest airlines in the world. In addition to the police and IDF military, the security of Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion Airport and the maintenance of a high level of security are also carried out by private security services. In addition, plainclothes security representatives are also on board Israeli ElAl Airlines. The airline's aircraft are additionally protected from possible terrorist attacks by double doors in the cockpit and a reinforced steel floor between the luggage compartment and the passenger compartment. They are also equipped with a special infrared countermeasures system in the event of a missile attack. In addition, the airline security service also checks passengers. Those who have flown ElAl know firsthand about this safety system.
The international terminal of Tel Aviv Airport has several levels. The arrival lounge is located on the lower level. After passing through passport control and receiving luggage, passengers enter this hall. Usually there are a lot of people here, the greeters gather around the enclosing railings in order to better see those leaving. Organized tours are also met here to take tourists to their destinations. From this hall, arriving guests can immediately go to the desired mode of transport. At the same level at the exit from the terminal there is a railway station, from where you can quickly and comfortably get to your destination.
Some buses and taxis stop near Terminal 3. Special shuttles also run from here, delivering passengers to the intercity bus stop. Bus No. 5 takes passengers to the ELAL Junction stop, from where you can get to the desired city; to do this, you must purchase an intercity ticket from the driver, which includes travel on the shuttle. There is also a special type of minibus that goes in two directions: Haifa and Jerusalem. These are yellow and white minibuses that deliver passengers to populated areas in these two directions. Delivery to your home address is available for an additional fee. On the ground floor of the airport there are also counters of several companies offering car rentals. The airport provides detailed information about all its services on its official website.
Departing guests and Israelis check in for their flights on the upper level of the terminal. All information about departing flights from Tel Aviv is displayed on the airport display, including Russian flights to and other destinations. Next to the name of the desired flight, the numbers of the corresponding check-in counters are indicated where you can check in your luggage and receive a boarding pass. However, before check-in, you must also go through a preliminary check, where airport security officers will question and “enlighten” your luggage. If necessary, your luggage will be sent for inspection. There are some items, such as Dead Sea products or date honey, that cannot be x-rayed. You should know that if such products are present in your luggage, it will be sent for inspection. As a rule, this entire verification procedure takes some time. And in the case of a large number of simultaneously departing flights, it drags on for a long time. Therefore, it is recommended that passengers arrive at the airport three hours before departure.
After registration, passengers then proceed to passport control, where they first inspect their hand luggage. By the way, until this moment, mourners can accompany passengers. Between the registration area and passport control there is a hall with cafes and shops where you can still spend time together. Through the windows of the hall you can see planes taking off and landing. After passport control, passengers find themselves in a huge round room, from which several waiting rooms radiate like rays. The structure of Tel Aviv Airport is clearly visible in the aerial photo. Most of the halls are equipped with telescopic bridges, through which passengers immediately board the aircraft, which is especially convenient in bad weather. This huge space houses numerous duty-free shops and cafes. Immediately at the entrance to the duty-free zone there is a value added tax refund point. You just need to first present purchases for which VAT refund has been issued before registration.
Terminal 1 currently serves local flights, including to Eilat, and some international charter flights. There are also plans to transfer all flights here after the closure of Tel Aviv Sde Dov Municipal Airport. Overall, Ben Gurion International Airport serves more than ten million passengers a year. At the same time, every year there is an increase in passengers, both on domestic and international routes.
