The Prime Minister’s Office announced on Wednesday a plan to build a new international airport in the northern Negev. The plan was announced in conjunction with the Transportation and Finance Ministries and will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval this coming Sunday.
The new airport is part of a broader national initiative to reduce economic disparities between the center and the periphery, with the government hoping to stimulate job creation and economic activity in the South. As part of the overall strategy, an additional airport is planned for Kiryat Shmona in the North.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev described the announcement as a “historic decision that strengthens Israel’s skies, the economy, and the Negev.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich pointed to the airport’s establishment as “the way to build a future and truly eliminate gaps.”
The project, initially approved by the Economic Affairs Committee in March of 2025, is also intended to help alleviate traffic at Ben-Gurion Airport, which currently serves as Israel’s primary international gateway. According to the Israel Airports Authority, Ben-Gurion Airport is expected to reach maximum capacity in 2040.
Potential issues with the new airport
The Ziklag site had been considered in the past but was rejected due to its proximity to existing Gaza-area flight paths frequently used by the IAF. Officials raised concerns about the site being too close to the Gaza border, which could pose security risks. However, the defense establishment eventually concluded that the risk was not substantial enough to stop the project.
Aviation industry sources have noted that the site remains problematic because it may overload Israel’s flight path network. Additionally, with a cost estimate of NIS 7 billion, there are concerns that the new airport may follow the same fate as Ramon Airport near Eilat, which opened in 2019 and has yet to turn a profit.
Two potential alternative sites were also under consideration for the new airport: Ramat David in the North and Nevatim in the Negev.
The airport’s approval comes soon after European low-cost carrier Wizz Air announced plans to invest $1 billion in the Israeli market and open a base there.