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The Israel Airports Authority expects close to 445,000 passengers to pass through Ben Gurion Airport during this year’s Passover holiday; this is a 10 percent less than during Passover 2008.  The busiest day of the holiday period is expected to be 12th April, when more than 42,000 passengers are expected to pass through Ben Gurion Airport.

Air traffic during the Passover holiday (from 6th April until 19th April) is expected to be down by 4 percent compared with last year.  The airports in Eilat and Ovda are expecting close to 54,000 passengers on 900 aircraft movements during the holiday period.   According to data from the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) the leading destinations for Pesach 2009 are likely to be Turkey, the United States, Great Britain, Italy and Germany.

According to Kobi Mor, the Director General of the IAA, with the approach of the Passover festival all of the facilities in the airport will be made kosher and the sale of leavened foods forbidden.  The IAA also recommends that Israeli passengers should take advantage of the free registration to the biometric system at Ben Gurion Airport and at the Taba Border Crossing, this in order to speed up passage through passport control.

Mor added that the management of the airport authority, employees of the international and regional airports and workers at border crossings, are preparing for the increase in passenger traffic with the approach of Passover.  Additional manpower will be in place to ensure that travelers receive the best possible service during the busiest days.

The peak days at Ben Gurion Airport are expected to be on Sunday 12th April when about 42,600 passengers are expected to pass through the airport and on Thursday 16th April when 42,000 passengers are expected on 285 flights arrivals and departures.