The Israel Airports Authority reaffirmed the June 15, 2004 opening date for the Ben Gurion 2000 terminal, but it may be delayed until after the Jewish High Holy Days.
Israel Airports Authority director-general Gabi Ophir told "Globes" that the Ben Gurion 2000 terminal would open on schedule in 2004. The opening will not be postponed to 2005. He denied the flood of reports about serious delays in the project and blamed minor delays on a two-month strike by Airport Authority engineers, and the government's rejection of the Airports Authority request to hire hundreds of foreign workers for the project.
The Airports Authority held a discussion on the project's status yesterday with Ben Gurion 2000 administrative director Avinoam Harel and Ben Gurion Airport general manager Kobi Mor. They agreed to reaffirm the June 15, 2004 opening date for the Ben Gurion 2000 terminal. Ophir said, "The only option on the agenda was not to open the new terminal at the height of the crowded summer season, but to postpone it until after the Jewish High Holy Days, in other words, to October 2004.
The Ben Gurion 2000 terminal opening has been delayed several times, due to administrative deficiencies and the bankruptcy of its chief contractor, Turkish company Ceylan Construction.
The Ben Gurion 2000 terminal includes air and land passenger terminals and accompanying support and service areas. The $1 billion terminal covers 1,700 dunam (425 acres) and 270,000 sq.m. of built-up space.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on October 23, 2003