TL;DR: Most flights at Ben Gurion use Terminal 3, but since July 2026 Terminal 1 is open again. Low-cost flights (such as Wizz Air, Ryanair and easyJet) and charter flights tend to depart specifically from Terminal 1. The terminal is set per flight, not per airline, so it is worth checking it on the flight board. International flights land at Terminal 3, even when they departed from Terminal 1. A free shuttle runs between the terminals, every 15 minutes, around the clock. The train arrives at Terminal 3.
Which Terminal Is Your Flight?
Ben Gurion has two passenger terminals: Terminal 3, which most flights leave from (according to our data, 15,405 of the 19,755 departures between 1 July and 21 September 2026), and Terminal 1. The single most important point for a traveler: the terminal is set per flight, not per airline. The same airline can operate some flights from Terminal 3 and others from Terminal 1.
There is, however, a practical rule of thumb: low-cost flights and charter flights tend to depart from Terminal 1. The common low-cost carriers at Ben Gurion are:
- Wizz Air
- Ryanair
- easyJet
Seasonal charter and holiday flights also tend to leave from Terminal 1. Still, this is a rule of thumb and not a fixed rule: the same low-cost airline may run some of its flights from Terminal 3, so it is worth checking the terminal of your specific flight rather than relying on the airline alone.
In practical terms: a passenger who assumes every flight uses Terminal 3 may find that their flight actually leaves from Terminal 1. The Israel Airports Authority recommends checking in advance which terminal your flight departs from.
Where to see which terminal a given flight uses:
- On the Israel Airports Authority flight board: each flight has a terminal column.
- On our departures board: the terminal of each flight, taken from the Israel Airports Authority feed.
Terminal 1 Is Open Again
Ahead of the summer the Israel Airports Authority resumed operations at Terminal 1: from 28 June 2026 for domestic flights, and from 1 July 2026 for international flights as well. The domestic flights are to and from Ramon Airport, and they land at Terminal 1.
One point worth knowing: international flights land at Terminal 3, even when they departed from Terminal 1. According to our data, 19,087 international flights landed between 1 July and 21 September 2026, and only one of them was recorded at Terminal 1. So on an outbound flight you may leave from Terminal 1, while on the return you land at Terminal 3.
The Free Shuttle Between Terminals
An Israel Airports Authority shuttle runs between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, free of charge. According to the Authority it leaves every 15 minutes from each terminal, 24 hours a day, all week. Where the stops are:
- At Terminal 3: on Level G (ground floor), near Gate 01 and the shuttle stop for the long-term parking lot.
- At Terminal 1: at the front of the terminal, opposite Gate 4.
The train arrives at Terminal 3. A passenger who arrives by train and flies from Terminal 1 continues on the shuttle.
What Each Terminal Offers
According to the Israel Airports Authority:
- Terminal 3: a Bank Hapoalim currency exchange in the Departures Hall (duty-free) that operates 24/7, ATMs in several places in the terminal, VAT-refund counters, two synagogues, and a Muslim and Christian prayer room in the duty-free hall, Concourse E.
- Terminal 1: a Bank Hapoalim currency exchange in the Departures Hall (duty-free), in accordance with the flight schedule, an ATM at the front of the terminal next to Gate 3, dining, duty-free shops, and vending machines for drinks and sweets.
- Lounges: on the Israel Airports Authority list of lounges, the only entry at Terminal 1 is "Fattal Terminal", which the Authority describes as the private-terminal experience at Ben Gurion. We cover the other lounges in our guide to the lounges at Ben Gurion.
- VAT refund at Terminal 1: a passenger whose purchases go in checked baggage has the documents and the goods stamped, before handing over the bags, at the VAT-refund counter in the check-in hall, Sector A (Israel Airports Authority). The refund itself is paid at a counter in the duty-free area (Israel Tax Authority).
Getting To and From Each Terminal
- Train: arrives at Terminal 3. Terminal 1 is reached on the shuttle.
- Bus: the lines to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem leave from Terminal 3, Level 2, Exit 21. Terminal 1 is reached on the shuttle.
- Taxi: licensed taxis wait at both terminals: at Terminal 3 at the exit from Gate 03 on the ground floor, and at Terminal 1 at the exit from the domestic-flights welcomers hall.
- Arrivals: international flights land at Terminal 3, and flights from Ramon at Terminal 1.
You can see the live train and bus board from Ben Gurion, and we cover getting to and from the airport in more detail in our guides to public transport and taxis from Ben Gurion.
Good to Know
- The terminal is set per flight: it appears on the Israel Airports Authority flight board and on our departures board.
- Low-cost and charter: as a rule, low-cost flights (Wizz Air, Ryanair, easyJet) and charter flights tend to leave from Terminal 1 - but this varies from flight to flight, so it is worth checking the terminal of your specific flight.
- Arrival times: the Israel Airports Authority recommends arriving at Ben Gurion 3 hours before departure. For domestic flights its guidance is to arrive two hours before departure, and no later than one hour before.
- Crossing between terminals: a passenger who lands at Terminal 3 and later departs from Terminal 1 (or the reverse) crosses on the free shuttle, which leaves every 15 minutes.
- VAT refund: available at both terminals.
Sources: Israel Airports Authority (its website and its official announcements channel), Israel Tax Authority, and our own data from the Israel Airports Authority feed (1 July to 21 September 2026).
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