Page 40 - Aviation News - September 2017

Terminal 1 today from the landside entrance. Noam Menashe Terminal 3’s duty-free area. Noam Menashe
the increasing numbers of ights and LOOKING AHEAD Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon, who perished
new aircraft types, additional regulations, The future for Ben Gurion Airport looks in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in
technology and procedures for safety were bright, with passenger numbers rising 2003 and his son, Assaf Ramon, who died
needed to give the country a 21st century each year in the past decade. To cope six years later when his F-16 crashed) is to
aviation infrastructure. with future demand construction started in help alleviate some of the pressure from the
Over the years three of the original 2014 on a 182,986sq ft (17,000m) new ‘E’ main hub.
runways were assimilated into the apron extension (adding to ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ extensions) When it opens, all the airlines that use
parking areas and the fourth is now part of to Terminal 3’s pier, which will incorporate Eilat City Airport and Ovda Airport are
a taxiway. Three new runways were built eight airbridges (three for widebody aircraft) expected to relocate their operations there.
from scratch. In June 2010 a project began and two ground gates, and there will be ve Ramon Airport will provide domestic and
to upgrade the runways to cope with the further stands for large types and seven European ights. The new facility is due
Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8. Advanced for smaller ones. The extension will also to be completed in October this year and
runway safety systems were installed house a VIP lounge and coffee and duty- is planned to open in the rst quarter of
as well as new ILSs (instrument landing free shops and is due to open late this year/ next year – but such is the rate of growth in
systems) and other navigation equipment early next year. passenger numbers to Israel that thoughts
and a new 348ft (106m) air traffic control Ben Gurion can only be expanded so far are already turning to the possibilities of
tower constructed. and in 2015 work started on an international a third major airport in the north of the
Last year Ben Gurion handled 17.3m gateway at Timna, 7 miles (11km) from Eilat country.
international and 594,000 domestic airport, which will replace the latter. Regardless of the developments
passengers and the prediction is that by One of the reasons for building what will elsewhere, Ben Gurion Airport will remain as
2020 the total gure will have risen to 25m. be called Ramon Airport (named for the rst Israel’s foremost international gateway.

Ben Gurion Airport is Israel’s main international airport and handles many airlines from around the world. AirTeamImages.com/4x6zk-moni shafi r

40 Aviation News incorporating Jets September 2017

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