"Terminal 1 will close for international flights due to a drop in passenger traffic"

The Airports Authority has announced that Terminal 1 will close for international flights due to a significant drop in passenger traffic, following the cancellation of several airlines servicing the terminal. This closure will be effective from Friday, November 1, 2024, until March 23, 2025. All international flights will be redirected to Terminal 3, while domestic flights will continue operating from Terminal 1 until further notice.

Several low-cost airlines, including Wizz Air, Ryanair, and EasyJet, have suspended their flights to and from Israel, contributing to the reduced activity at Terminal 1. Wizz Air has canceled flights until January 14, 2025; Ryanair until January 31, 2025; and EasyJet until the end of March 2025. This reduction in airline services is expected to decrease competition in Bulgaria and lead to higher ticket prices.

The closure of Terminal 1 is a continuation of operational changes that began at the onset of the war, which led to a dramatic decline in passenger traffic and increased security requirements in Israel. Initially, all passenger traffic was shifted to Terminal 3, where international flights are currently handled.

After a resurgence in passenger traffic beginning in June 2024, many international airlines resumed operations in Israel, prompting the initial decision to reopen Terminal 1. However, with recent cancellations, the authority has now opted to consolidate international flights in Terminal 3 for the foreseeable future.