Ben Gurion International Airport
Ben Gurion International Airport (IATA: TLV, ICAO: LLBG) is located approximately 15 kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv-Yafo, near the city of Lod in central Israel. It serves as the country's primary international gateway and ranks among the busiest airports in the Middle East. The site has a long aviation history, having first opened as RAF Lydda in 1937 before being renamed in 1973 to honour David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister. Its central location within Israel makes it the natural entry and exit point for the vast majority of international travellers visiting the country.
Overview
Ben Gurion International Airport (IATA: TLV, ICAO: LLBG) is located approximately 15 kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv-Yafo, near the city of Lod in central Israel. It serves as the country's primary international gateway and ranks among the busiest airports in the Middle East. The site has a long aviation history, having first opened as RAF Lydda in 1937 before being renamed in 1973 to honour David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister. Its central location within Israel makes it the natural entry and exit point for the vast majority of international travellers visiting the country.
Ben Gurion International Airport is most useful when its route network, ground transport and terminal setup match the trip you are taking. Before booking, compare the scheduled departure time with the airport location, connection window and any baggage or check-in requirements attached to your airline.
Airlines
El Al, Israel's national flag carrier, uses Ben Gurion as its main hub and operates the broadest network of routes from the airport. Arkia and Israir, two smaller Israeli carriers, also base significant operations here. A range of major international airlines maintain scheduled service to Tel Aviv, including carriers from Europe, North America, the Gulf region, and Asia. Airlines such as Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, Turkish Airlines, and several others connect Ben Gurion to major hub airports across multiple continents. The airport's role as Israel's dominant international gateway means that connectivity is generally broad, though specific route availability and frequency can vary by season and carrier scheduling decisions.
For any airport, the operating airline matters as much as the marketing airline shown in a search result. Codeshares, partner flights and regional affiliates can affect check-in desks, terminal use, baggage handling and support if a flight is delayed or changed.
Terminals and Transfers
Ben Gurion operates two passenger terminals. Terminal 3 is the larger of the two and handles the great majority of international scheduled traffic. It is a modern facility designed to accommodate high passenger volumes and includes a range of retail, dining, and passenger services. Terminal 1 serves domestic routes and certain low-cost or regional international services. Passengers connecting between flights should confirm which terminal their onward service departs from, as movement between terminals may require additional time. The airport operates around the clock without an overnight curfew, which supports a wide spread of departure and arrival times throughout the day and night.
Connections through TLV need more planning when flights are on separate tickets, when checked baggage is involved, or when the itinerary changes between domestic and international processing. Build a wider buffer if you need to collect bags, move between terminals or pass through security again.
Ground Transport and Trip Planning
Ben Gurion International Airport ground transport should be planned around your arrival time, luggage and final destination. Public transport can be efficient where available, while taxis, rideshare and private transfers may be easier for late arrivals, families or travellers with multiple bags.
If you are choosing between airports, compare TLV against nearby alternatives, total ground-transport cost and the reliability of the connection. A slightly higher fare can be worthwhile when it reduces transfer risk or shortens the total journey.
Practical guide
Using Ben Gurion International Airport without guesswork
Plan TLV around the terminal you use, the type of connection you are making and how predictable you need the trip into Tel Aviv-Yafo to be.
Confirm whether your flight uses a domestic, international or regional area at TLV. Airport layouts vary, and terminal assumptions are a common source of missed connections.
Ben Gurion operates two passenger terminals. Terminal 3 is the larger of the two and handles the great majority of international scheduled traffic. It is a modern facility designed to accommodate high passenger volumes a
Leave extra time when changing terminals, travelling with checked luggage, or arriving during busy morning, evening, holiday or event periods.
Before you leave for TLV
- 1Confirm the terminal and operating airline before leaving for TLV.
- 2Check baggage cut-off times if you are travelling with checked luggage.
- 3Leave extra time for international processing or terminal changes.
- 4Compare ground transport options against traffic and arrival time.
- 5Recheck the flight status before travelling to the airport.
Start here
Terminal and transfer notes
Confirm whether your flight uses a domestic, international or regional area at TLV. Airport layouts vary, and terminal assumptions are a common source of missed connections.
Ben Gurion operates two passenger terminals. Terminal 3 is the larger of the two and handles the great majority of international scheduled traffic. It is a modern facility designed to accommodate high passenger volumes a
Leave extra time when changing terminals, travelling with checked luggage, or arriving during busy morning, evening, holiday or event periods.
For Ben Gurion International Airport, the safest connection plan is based on the operating airline, the terminal shown on your booking and whether your baggage is checked through. If the itinerary uses separate tickets, choose a larger buffer.
Routes
Top routes from TLV
Use these route cards to scan popular destinations, estimated distance and flight time before checking live schedules and fares.
No routes tracked from TLV yet.
Official planning details
Transfers, fares, parking and passenger services at TLV
A source-linked planning layer for details that can change: terminal transfers, transport costs, parking, lounges and accessibility.
Terminal transfer links
TransfersBen Gurion International Airport transfer details can depend on airline, terminal, baggage handling and whether flights are booked on one ticket. Check the operating airline and airport website before relying on a tight connection at TLV.
Check airport transfer informationTransport fares and local access
FaresTransport costs to and from Tel Aviv-Yafo can vary by public transport, taxi, rideshare, private transfer, tolls and time of day. Confirm current fares before travelling, especially for late arrivals or peak periods.
Review transport informationParking and pre-booking
ParkingParking at Ben Gurion International Airport may vary by terminal, short-stay area, long-stay area and online booking rules. Compare official parking options with drop-off, pick-up and ground transport before choosing how to reach the airport.
Review airport parking optionsLounges and eligibility
LoungesLounge availability at TLV depends on airline, cabin, alliance status, membership or paid-entry rules. Check the operating airline before travel because access rules and opening hours can change.
Check lounge informationAccessibility and assistance
AccessPassengers needing mobility, sensory, medical or other assistance should confirm airport facilities and arrange airline assistance before travel. Airline-provided help is usually requested through the airline or booking channel.
Review accessibility informationTerminal and parking maps
MapsMaps are useful for finding check-in areas, arrivals paths, parking locations and ground transport pick-up points at Ben Gurion International Airport. Confirm the terminal before leaving for the airport.
Open airport mapBudget check
Useful cost notes
Prices can change, so use these notes to spot likely cost items before checking the official source.
Public transport, taxi, rideshare and private-transfer prices around TLV can change by time, distance, demand and local fees.
Parking prices often vary by car park, stay length and whether online pre-booking is available.
Seat selection, baggage, lounge access, tolls and late-night transport can change the real cost of a trip.
Nearby airports
Other airports in Israel
Nearby airport options can help when comparing fares, connection times, ground transport and alternate arrival points in Israel.
FAQ
Ben Gurion International Airport — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
9 common questions
- Ben Gurion International Airport is located in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel (Asia), at coordinates 32.000°, 34.870°.
- Its IATA code is TLV and its ICAO code is LLBG.
- Ben Gurion International Airport serves Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. When comparing fares, check whether other airports also serve the same area — prices and transfer times can differ between them.
- Ben Gurion International Airport operates on Asia/Jerusalem local time. Departure and arrival times on tickets are always shown in each airport's local time, so double-check the offset when planning connections or pick-ups.
- Ben Gurion International Airport sits at latitude 32.000° and longitude 34.870°. The map link in the details panel on this page opens the exact location for driving directions.
- Originfacts does not yet track scheduled routes from TLV. Use the flight search on this page to see live airline options for your travel dates.
- Route coverage for TLV is still being added to Originfacts. Run a search from TLV on the flight search page to see every destination airlines currently sell for your dates.
- Its address is Center District, 7015001, Israel, the phone number is +972 3-972-3333, the official website is http://www.iaa.gov.il/RASHAT/he-IL/Airports/BenGurion. For flight-specific questions (delays, baggage, rebooking), contact the operating airline directly rather than the airport.
- Yes — Originfacts lists 2 other airports in Israel. The nearby-airports section on this page links to each of them, which is useful when comparing fares or finding an alternative departure point.