Israel Airports Authority (IAA) has confirmed that Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport Terminal 1 is to remain closed for the foreseeable future due to the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The terminal was due to be closed until at least the end of April this year, but IAA has confirmed to TRBusiness that it is now unlikely to reopen until the end of next year at the earliest.

The terminal serves Arkia and Israir for domestic flights to Eilat and low-cost carriers for flights to Europe. All international operations will be moved to Terminal 3.

Terminal 1 has been closed since March and only resumed full operations for arriving and departing international and domestic passengers in June 2017. It was previously used for domestic flights following the opening of the new Terminal 3 in 2004 and later for check-in, border control and security for international flights.

LIMITED OPERATIONS AT BEN GURION AIRPORT

A comprehensive Terminal 1 retail offer includes a JR/Duty Free store and 70sq m toy shop operated by Israeli travel retailer Layam. Longstanding incumbent JR/Duty Free (in partnership with Gebr. Heinemann) secured the 10-year contract to run the Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 core category duty free business back in 2017.

Tel Aviv Ben Gurion remains operational for certain domestic and international flights. Currently, only nationals and Israeli residents are allowed to enter the country and must be quarantined for 14 days at a facility designated by the government. Transit facilities are suspended.

Yoram Shapira, Deputy Director General, Commerce and Business Development, IAA told TRBusiness: “Terminal 1 will be closed until at least the end of next year. We will then review the situation. Due to the significant drop in traffic we do not need to operate two terminals.”

Shapira, who is predicting a slow recovery from the pandemic across the airport’s aviation and commercial businesses commented: “Most of the retail and food and beverage concessionaires have operations in both terminals, so will they have access to passengers in Terminal 3. From their point of view, the closure of Terminal 1 will not impact turnover.”

He emphasised: “Terminal 1 will reopen when we reach the required traffic to necessitate the operation of two terminals. Hopefully, all flights at the airport will resume in the beginning/middle of June.”

Garry Stock, Chairman, JR/Duty Free also commented to TRBusiness: “We were not surprised but very sorry to hear that the terminal has been closed [indefinitely- Ed] because it is an important part of our business.

“We invested in the terminal and it was only reopened a short time ago. This is just another example of the enormous uncertainty over what is going to happen here in Israel and all over the world.”

According to multiple local media reports, Israeli authorities are devising a plan to restore the airport to full capacity on 1 June. National carrier El Al has suspended flights until 30 May and is seeking the help of the Israeli government to ensure it survival.