The first flight of the Turkish charter carrier, Sky Airlines, took off on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 04:50 a.m. from Terminal 1; Chairman of the Israel Airports Authority Council, Ovadia Eli: “The opening of Terminal 1 is intended to maximize Israel’s air traffic”

Terminal 1 for international flights, charter flights and low-fare flights opened on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 with the departure of a Sky Airlines flight. Aboard the flight were 168 passengers en route to Antalya. As coordinated in advance with travel agents, all the passengers were informed that the flight would be leaving from Terminal 1. At 01:00, when the passengers arrived for check in, the management of Ben Gurion International Airport and other officials were also on hand at Terminal 1 to oversee the procedures.

Departing passengers from Terminal 1 on the Turkish charter airline, Sky Airlines, were provided with all the necessary services: security checks, flight check-in, luggage check-in, and passport control. After completing the check-in for the flight, passengers were transferred to Terminal 3, where they could enjoy the many duty-free shops, restaurants and cafes, or wait in comfort until boarding their flight. On their return to Israel, the passengers exited from the airport’s Terminal 3.

Terminal 1, which is also accessible for disabled passengers, has a cafeteria, an ATM for withdrawing Israeli currency and provides free wireless Internet connections.

Throughout the summer and over the coming two weeks in particular, several Sky Airlines flights will depart daily from Terminal 1. For example: On Thursday, July 3, five Sky Airlines flights will depart from Terminal 1 with around 750 passengers; on Sunday, July 6, six flights will depart from Terminal 1; on Monday, July 7, two flights, and on Thursday, July 10, six Sky Airlines flights with around 1,000 passengers.

The decision to open Terminal 1 and to speed up the time schedule for its operation to the summer of 2008 is a result of a decision by the Israel Airports Authority's director general to provide the best possible service for passengers, even in peak travel periods like the one expected this summer.

The chairman of the Israel Airports Authority Council, Ovadia Eli, noted that with the opening of Terminal 1, “we are joining leading airports around the world that are operating designated terminals for charter flights and low-fare flights. The opening of Terminal 1 is intended to increase and maximize Israel’s air capacity during peak travel periods. Next year, in the summer of 2009, Terminal 1 will be fully operational and will able to handle up to 600,000 passengers on international flights and provide all the necessary departure services from the terminal to the plane – plus a wide range of shops .”

Eli emphasized that after obtaining the required authorization from the government and the Knesset, the passenger fee from Terminal 1 would be half the amount charged for passengers departing from Terminal 3.

In the summer of 2008, an increase of approximately 10 percent over the previous year is expected in the number of passengers. In July-August 2008, some 2.6 million travelers will pass through Ben Gurion International Airport.

Terminal1 will remain open from July 1, 2008 to October 31, 2008, and will then be closed in order to prepare for handling additional charter companies.