(haipo) For years, there has been talk of establishing a complementary international airport to Ben Gurion Airport in the north of the country. Haifa, Ramat David, and the Galilee regions have been mentioned repeatedly as realistic alternatives, ones that could strengthen the north, spread congestion from Ben Gurion Airport, and change the map of Israeli aviation. But now, with the expected government decision, the northern dream is moving away and the direction is: south.
In a joint announcement by the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Ministry of Finance, it was stated that this coming Sunday (8.2.26), a decision-making proposal to determine the location of Israel's first supplementary international airport, in Ziklag in the Negev, will be submitted for government approval.
The decision was reached by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following a discussion with Minister of Transportation Miri Regev, Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, Deputy Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, and senior officials from the Ministries of Finance, Transportation, and Defense. According to government officials, establishing a supplementary international airport is a national need, given the ongoing increase in the number of passengers entering and leaving Israel. The new airport is expected to create thousands of jobs, strengthen the regional economy, and be a significant growth engine for the Negev as part of a government policy to reduce gaps and strengthen the periphery.
While the South takes off, the North is left behind
As early as 2022, then-Minister of Transportation Merav Michaeli appointed a professional team to examine expanding Israel's international air traffic capacity. That same year, at the Gulf Regionalism Conference held in Haifa, Michaeli stated that she did not rule out the establishment of a supplementary international airport in Haifa and even emphasized that Israel needs two supplementary airports, one in the north and one in the south. For this purpose, a dedicated committee was established, which was expected to recommend the promotion of a regional international airport in Haifa.
However, the current decision changes the picture: the first supplementary field will be built in the south, and the possibility of building a field in the north, at least in the foreseeable future, is being pushed aside.
It is important to emphasize that the existing airport in Haifa, which is considered a boutique airport, has experienced a revival and even a real boom in recent years, with a significant increase in the number of flights and passenger traffic, especially with the entry of Air Haifa into the picture.
However, even today, it is an airport that operates mainly for short and limited destinations, and even after the runway extension, if it is realized, it will remain a small international airport, suitable for short flights and limited destinations only. Therefore, it cannot serve as a complementary international airport to Ben Gurion Airport, but at most a regional airport that strengthens it.
Minister of Transportation, Brigadier General (res.) Miri Regev, welcomed the decision and said: "This is a historic decision that strengthens Israel's skies, the economy, and the Negev. A complementary international airport in the south is a tremendous growth engine that will create employment, open up new opportunities, and connect the Negev to the centers of activity of Israel and the world. From today, we are not talking about the periphery, but about growth centers. This is a policy of execution, not talk."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added: "Establishing a supplementary international airport in the Negev is an economic, national, and strategic decision of the highest order. This is a move that connects security resilience with economic growth, between developing advanced infrastructure and practically strengthening the periphery."
Deputy Minister Almog Cohen also He emphasized the national and security aspect of the decision: "Less than seven kilometers from where the damned white vans drove in the October 7.10 massacre, the State of Israel will build an international airport that will provide quality employment and bring with it a border-breaking ecosystem. Despite everything, the Negev will take off."
Meanwhile, in the north of the country, the question remains open: Will they also get to see a complementary international airport there, or is this another missed opportunity?
Everything is only for the south, the north does not exist and this is how this government treats it, from Hadera to Kiryat Shmona, just open up. Everything is only for the south, the north does not exist and this is how this government treats it, from Hadera to Kiryat Shmona, just open up.
Very good 💪
You've already killed us with air pollution from petrochemicals and refineries.
Is it just me, or is it that during talk and rumors about the 2026 elections (in the background) Likud ministers are promoting development in the Negev? Is this a real plan, or just talk "...from today, we are not talking about the periphery, but about growth centers. This is a policy of execution, not talk."
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