From the Liveblog of
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Government okays plan for 2 new international airports, in south and north
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSharon Wrobel is a tech reporter for The Times of Israel
The government has approved a plan to establish two new international airports, one in the southern Negev region and one at Ramat David in the north of the country, to complement Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.
The new Ziklag airport will be constructed in the area of the Ziklag archaeological site, near the southern cities of Rahat and Netivot and not far from the southern city of Beersheba.
“The establishment of a complementary airport to Ben Gurion Airport in Ziklag in the south will be a tremendous boost to the development of the Negev — for employment, accessibility, and tourism, alongside infrastructure of roads and railways, and also for supporting industries and businesses that are located near an airport,” says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ziklag as a location was reportedly dismissed by planning experts in the past due to its proximity to Gaza, as well as its overlap with Israeli Air Force and Ben Gurion flight paths, which would lead to congestion at the facility. Decision-makers have seemingly ignored these findings.
“We are also promoting the construction of another airport in the north, in Ramat David, to provide a real response to the growing demand for tourists as well as for Israelis who fly abroad,” says Netanyahu. “Both airports will be established in parallel as quickly as possible.”
The decision to advance the construction of two airports simultaneously was made following a discussion between Netanyahu, Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Deputy Minister Almog Cohen.
The establishment of two international airports is intended to address the expected increase in passenger traffic, ensure an alternative aviation infrastructure for Israel, and reduce pressure on Ben Gurion Airport as it is expected to reach its capacity ceiling of 40 million passengers per year, according to a joint statement.
The approval comes after years of discussions on establishing new international airports to help offset congestion at Israel’s main gateway.
The Times of Israel Community.