The construction of a "fourth arm" to Ben Gurion International Airport's Terminal 3 was approved today. The new arm will meet the needs of the larger number of passengers passing through the airport following the signing of the Open Skies agreement with the EU to open airline competition for flights to and from Israel, and in particular the higher number of low-cost carriers flying to and from Israel.
The new extension to Terminal 3 will cost NIS 660 million.
The Israel Airports Authority expects 14 million passengers to have used Ben Gurion Airport by the end of the year, and sees this number rising to 16 million by 2018, and is planning construction capable of handling 20 million passengers annually in the coming years.
The existing arms at Ben Gurion Airport have eight connectors for incoming and outgoing flights. The planned 17,000 square meters expansion will include two exit gates to buses, five parking areas for large planes or seven for smaller planes, a lobby, cafes and stores.
At the start of 2014, work will also begin on upgrading Ben Gurion Airport's runways to allow double the current aircraft traffic. That project will cost more than NIS 800 million.
Other projects currently underway by the Israel Airports Authority is construction of the new Ramon Airport north of Eilat.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 1, 2013
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