Reported Plan Would Put Ben Gurion Terminals Under Competing Private Operators

The Government Companies Authority is advancing a proposal to put Ben Gurion Airport's terminals 1 and 3 under separate private operators, according to reporting published on October 31. Under the proposed division, the Israel Airports Authority would focus on infrastructure while private concessionaires would handle terminal operations. The aim is to create competition between the two terminals. The reported reform remains a proposal. The model would leave land and infrastructure in public hands and convert the present statutory authority into a government company owning those assets. A document attributed to the Government Companies Authority cites “low service levels” as part of its rationale. It also criticizes centralized management, limited operational flexibility and rigid employment agreements. The proposal is associated with authority director Roi Kahlon and strategy and business-development head Asaf Nativ. The plan began taking shape about a year ago and gained momentum after the airport shutdown on August 20, according to the report. Its financial implications extend beyond the terminals: Ben Gurion revenue currently helps support Ramon and Haifa airports and land border crossings with Egypt and Jordan. Preliminary implementation costs are described as tens of millions of shekels because employment contracts would change. The reported model also calls for effective supervision of private operators; no implementation timetable was provided.