Page 37 - Aviation News - September 2017
P. 37

BEN GURION AIRPORT










 ISRAEL’S INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY

















                                                                                          An El Al Boeing 747-400 taking
                                                                                            off from Ben Gurion Airport.
                                                                                          AirTeamImages.com/Ido Wachtel







































      Above: The original terminal under construction in the 1930s with a Percival Vega
      Gull in the foreground.  Matson Photo Service – G Eric and Edith Matson Photograph
      Collection, Library of Congress
      Right: The original layout of Lydda Airport, now Ben Gurion.  Matson Photo Service –
      G Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, Library of Congress
                                                                               crossings into Israel and began renovating
                                           wanted to leave the country.  After the death
      and supplies to Israel.  Over 32 days the   wanted to leave the country.  After the death   crossings into Israel and began renovating
      USAF’s Military Airlift Command  ew in   of Israel’s  rst Prime Minister, David Ben   the historic Terminal 1 and other facilities,
      22,325 tons of tanks, artillery, ammunition   Gurion, on December 1, 1973 the airport   adding a second  oor which was used for
      and supplies in Lockheed C-141 Starlifter   was renamed in his honour (ICAO code   duty free and a food court plus new boarding
      and C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft on 566   LLBG, previously it was LLLB).  gates and a 150ft (48m) control tower.
       ights.                               The rise in domestic and international
        US support helped ensure Israel survived    ights and need for co-ordination with the   BUILDING FOR A
      the co-ordinated surprise attack from the   Israeli Air Force in such a small amount of   NEW MILLENNIUM
      Arab Republic of Egypt and Syrian Arab   national airspace led the government to form   In the 1990s the IAA and Israeli Government
      Republic.  Civil  ights were reduced to the   the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) in 1977.  looked at the facilities the airport would need
      minimum possible during this period and   It took over the operational and  nancial   in the new millennium.  At the time, Terminal
      used to evacuate tourists and others who   management of all airports and land   1 was handling 5m passengers a year –

      www.aviation-news.co.uk                                                                                    37


  36-40_gurionDC.mf.indd   37                                                                                03/08/2017   12:11
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