It was an extremely busy Sunday in Ben-Gurion International Airport where over 52,000 travelers passed through on 321 incoming and outgoing flights. The busy day was attributed to the beginning of the ‘bein hazmanim’ period during which many many chareidim travel to European and N. American destinations.

Airport Authority officials report that this week will bring a number of busy days, adding last year during the first days of August, they recorded 57,000 travelers on one day. Officials predict this year will not bring a new record, expecting less traveling that last summer due to economic realities.

Airport officials expect 2.3 million travelers to pass through the airport during the months of July and August, which would represent a 9% drop as compared to the same period last year. This July, 1,037,473 travelers were recorded as compared to 1,060,855 last year.

The largest number of travelers will be making their way to Turkey, with 154,000 people booked on 894 flights. 147,000 travelers will make their way to N. America this month on one of 510 flights; 107,000 travelers to France on 593 flights; 104,500 travelers to Germany on 542 flights; 104,200 travelers to Italy on 702 flights, the daily HaMevaser reports.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)