In 1950, Arkia airlines commenced operating internal flights from Lod to Eilat, Mahanayim and Haifa. During the winter of 1951/2, the passenger terminal was expanded by 36,000 sq. m. (about 387,500 sq. ft) and the runway extended to 2,400 meters. The processing capacity of passengers at the terminal, at that time, increased to 100,000 passengers per month.

In 1953 the “Government Institute for Aircraft Repair” (a.k.a. "Bedek") was established, which at the beginning of the 60s changed its name to Israel Aircraft Industries. At this institute, hundreds of civilian and military aircraft of Israeli and foreign entities  were overhauled, inspected and repaired. In October 1955, an El Al Constellation aircraft took off for Nairobi and Johannesburg and thus inaugurated the first direct air link of its kind with the African continent.