Israel planning to allow up to 90 passengers on departing flights starting Sunday

Move would moderately expand outbound travel as wartime restrictions keep Israel’s airspace largely closed; framework is dependent on security assessments and government decisions

The Transportation Ministry plans to increase the number of passengers allowed on departing flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport starting as early as Sunday.

According to the eased framework, an additional 20 passengers will be allowed on departing flights, currently limited to 50 per flight.

Another 20 seats will be allocated for humanitarian cases, bringing the maximum to 90 passengers per flight.

The emerging framework is not final and may be updated based on security assessments and decisions by the relevant government authorities.

The Transportation Ministry on March 23 cut the number of passengers permitted on a flight departing Ben Gurion Airport to 50 from 120 previously, after Iranian ballistic missiles targeted central and southern Israel, with multiple impacts and people injured. There are no restrictions on passenger numbers for arriving flights.

The number of takeoffs and landings at Ben Gurion Airport are restricted to one per hour as the country’s airspace remains virtually closed to regular commercial air traffic amid the ongoing war with Iran.

Israel’s airspace has been shut to most commercial traffic since February 28, when Israel launched joint attacks with the US on the Iranian regime.

Earlier this month, Ben Gurion Airport gradually reopened for limited inbound and outbound flights, operated solely by Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, Israir and Air Haifa.

Israel started to tighten passenger quota restrictions on outbound flights last month after three private jets parked at Ben Gurion Airport were damaged by debris following the interception of an Iranian ballistic missile.

The restrictions have been criticized by some, given that airports are operating under fewer restrictions in other countries in the region that have also been targeted by Iran, including the United Arab Emirates.

As a result of the restrictions, many of those trying to leave Israel have had to use land border crossings into Egypt or Jordan before continuing with their journeys.