Ben-Gurion Airport parking lots full as holiday travel surge leaves passengers seeking alternatives

SEPTEMBER 27, 2026 16:40Passengers planning to fly in the coming days and leave their vehicles at Ben-Gurion Airport will need to find another solution, as all airport parking lots are currently full, the Israel Airports Authority said on Sunday.According to the authority, the number of passengers increased significantly during the High Holy Days, resulting in all airport parking facilities reaching full capacity with no available spaces. The authority asked travelers and their companions not to arrive in private vehicles and instead use public transportation. The situation will continue until further notice, IAA noted.Parking shortage returns during peak travel periodsThis is not the first time the airport’s parking lots have reached capacity. In August, on a day when around 101,000 passengers passed through Ben-Gurion Airport, the authority announced that the "Kerem" and "Pardes" parking lots were completely full and directed passengers to other lots.That situation occurred during the peak of the summer travel season, while the current shortage comes during the peak holiday period, meaning both were times when heavy traffic was expected in advance. Despite this, passengers traveling to the airport cannot reserve a parking space in advance.The long-term parking lot does not offer advance reservations, and vehicles can only enter if space is available. Travelers leaving home do not know whether they will find parking until they arrive at the airport.Passengers scramble at Ben-Gurion Airport after a staff strike halted Israeli air travel, August 20, 2026 (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)The alternative suggested by the authority, public transportation, is also limited. The train is the fastest way to reach the airport, but its schedule changes during holidays. During Rosh Hashanah, for example, trains operated between Herzliya and Jerusalem and did not reach Ben-Gurion Airport. On weekends and holidays, train service does not operate at all.Public transportation options remain limitedThe Airports Authority said last year that exceptional congestion at the airport was mainly caused by traffic jams and the lack of train service on weekends. When trains are not operating, passengers are largely left with Egged’s 485 bus line, which runs 24 hours a day between Tel Aviv’s Central Bus Station and Ben-Gurion Airport, including on Saturdays. The line serves only one area.Taxis have also failed to solve the problem. Passengers who landed at Ben-Gurion Airport in recent days reported long taxi lines, confrontations between travelers and drivers, and a severe shortage of available cabs. Drivers said that many prefer to work within the city rather than travel to the airport because fares and regulations have, in their view, made airport trips financially unattractive.As a result, the authority is asking passengers to avoid private vehicles at precisely the time when alternative transportation options are most limited. Anyone who still needs to reach the airport in the coming days should check train schedules in advance and leave home with significantly more time than usual.Follow us on Google