According to Israel Airports Authority data, since the beginning of the year 5,143,675 passengers have passed through Ben Gurion International Airport, an increase of 12.5 percent over passenger traffic in 2007

941,004 international passengers passed through Ben Gurion airport in June, an increase of 15.4 percent over the same month last year. 7,020 international aircraft took off and landed, an increase of 17.9 percent compared with 2007. In the same month, 31,021 passengers passed through Ben Gurion airport on domestic flights.

Of the 941,004 passengers departing from and arriving in Israel during June, some 464,384 were arriving passengers and some 476,620 departing passengers.

During July and August 2008, 2.8 million passengers are expected to pass through Ben Gurion airport, an increase in traffic of 14 percent over the previous year.

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 the Israel Airports Authority’s wish to also provide the best possible service for passengers in peak travel periods.