42% decrease in passenger movements at Ben Gurion Airport.
International airlines, including British Airways, have suspended flights to Israel until mid-June due to security concerns following a Yemeni missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport, The Times of Israel reported.
The decision came after a ballistic missile fired from Yemen on Sunday (May 4) hit and landed near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, injuring several people. Several airlines, including Lufthansa, Air France, Delta, United Airlines, and Wizz Air, also temporarily suspended flights to Israel in the wake of the incident.
As a result of the suspensions, passenger traffic at Ben Gurion Airport has dropped significantly. The number of daily passengers has reportedly dropped from around 70,000 at the end of April to around 40,000, a 42 percent drop.
“Passenger movement in Israel is facing major challenges,” the vice chairman of Ofir Tours told The Times of Israel.
In response, Israeli airlines such as El Al, Arkia, and IsraAir have reportedly tried to help passengers by adding additional flights and capping one-way ticket prices.