Tel Aviv airport closes

Sde Dov, the small regional airport on Israel's coast just north of Tel Aviv, has finally, and controversially, closed. 

It provided a frequent link between Eilat to much of Israel’s largest city, circumventing the international airport Ben Gurion and all the complications of a major gateway. Israel's prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu refused to reverse an unpopular move. Apartment blocks are planned to be built on the airport site. The two airlines providing domestic services in Israel, Arkia and Israir, will be moving out.

The closure has been much resented by residents of Eilat, especially with the closing of the old city centre airport replaced by Ramon International. For a brief period, travellers could use the impressive new facility to get quickly to and from Herzliya and other resort areas without the need to pass through Tel Aviv and its traffic problems.  
 
Residents of Eilat and frequent flyers (without luggage) will get free transportation at Terminal 1 at Ben-Gurion directly to the Arlozorov train station in Tel Aviv. Holidaymakers and other visitors can use the shuttle to Terminal 3 and its rail connections. 

www.iaa.gov.il/en-US/rashot/Pages/default.aspx

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