Number of passengers per flight reduced after damage at Ben Gurion Airport from Iranian attack

Israel’s Transportation Ministry decides to tighten passenger quota restrictions on outbound flights after three private jets parked at Ben Gurion Airport were damaged by debris following the interception of an Iranian ballistic missile, according to Hebrew media reports.

The ministry is reducing the number of passengers per flight permitted to board large wide-body aircraft to 130 people, down from the 260-270 that were recently approved to board long-haul flights from Ben Gurion to the US, according to Ynet.

The new restriction will come into effect at midnight and last until Saturday night, according to Channel 12.

For departing flights on narrow-body aircraft, the current limit of 120 passengers per flight remains unchanged.

Israel’s airspace has been shut to most commercial traffic since February 28 following the US-Israel attack on Iran.

Earlier this month, Ben Gurion Airport gradually reopened for limited inbound and outbound flights operated solely by Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, Israir and Air Haifa, in order to repatriate Israelis stuck abroad and help travelers inside the country leave.

In response to the change, Israeli flagship carrier El Al announces that half of the passengers registered for flights to the US are expected to receive cancellation notices.

“We apologize for the inconvenience, and recommend that those customers who wish to depart as soon as possible find other alternatives for leaving the country,” El Al says.