An increase of 3.5% compared to 2004; an increase of 10% in freight traffic; Gabi Ofir, Director General of the I.A.A: 2005 was “service improvement year” at the border terminals. An investment of 80 million NIS, primarily in advanced technology, is planned for 2006

An increase of 3.5% in passenger traffic at Israel’s land terminals was registered in 2005, compared to 2004.  A total of 2,638,210 people – including Israeli citizens, Jordanians, Palestinians and tourists – passed through the Taba, Yitzhak Rabin (Arava), Allenby, Jordan River and Rafiach border terminals.

A leap of 52.6% was registered in tourist traffic at Israel’s border terminals, which are managed and operated by the Israel Airports Authority. The number of tourists totaled about 495 thousand and nearly half of them passed through the Taba Terminal on the Egyptian border.

The number of Jordanians passing through the border terminals rose by 18.5% compared to 2004, totaling approximately 82 thousand people. Most of them passed through the Yitzhak Rabin (Arava) Terminal.

The number of Palestinians passing through the terminals increased by 18.6% compared to 2004, totaling about 1 million people. Most of them passed through the Allenby Terminal.

The number of Israelis passing through the border terminals declined by 19% compared to 2004, totaling about 1 million people. Approximately 550 thousand of them crossed the border at the Taba Terminal, 42 thousand at the Yitzhak Rabin (Arava) Terminal, about 133.6 thousand at the Allenby Terminal, and 332.6 thousand at the Jordan River Terminal.

A rise of 10% was registered in freight and truck traffic at the border terminals, compared to 2004.  Freight traffic increased by 13.6% at the Karni terminal, 8.1% at the Allenby terminal and 8.1% at the Nitzana terminal.

Gabi Ofir, Director General of the Israel Airports Authority, reported that 2005 was “service improvement year” at all border crossing terminals, with special emphasis on minority populations. In the past year a new, modern departure hall was inaugurated at the Jordan River terminal, which serves as the main border crossing between Israel and Jordan.

In the area of freight transportation, a reservations center was inaugurated at the Karni terminal, reducing the cost of transport for merchants by about 90% and substantially cutting down waiting times at the terminal. The terminal’s technological means are currently being upgraded, in order to meet all demands for both export to and import from the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Ofir added that 2006 will be marked by a continued trend of service improvement as well as extensive investment in Israel’s land terminals, amounting to 80 million NIS.