Israel Airports Authority
Ben-Gurion Airport
Tel. (03) 9712804/54
Website (Hebrew): http://www.ben-gurion-airport.co.il/
Since June, 1978, this statutory authority has been responsible for running
and developing eight airports: Ben-Gurion (Lod), Eilat, Atarot (Jerusalem),
Mahanayim, Sede Dov, Herzliya, Haifa, and Beersheva. The Authority is also
in charge of one heliport, in Mitzpe Ramon, and the civil air transport
systems in the north and south of the country.
In early 1980, the government instructed the Authority to administer the
border crossing at Neot Sinai, and provided the requisite financing. In
April, 1982, after the Israel-Egypt peace treaty was signed and the frontier
redrawn, the Authority was instructed to administer the border stations at
Rafiah, Nitzana, and Taba.
Authority Functions
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To maintain, operate, develop, and run the airports, to oversee
their planning and construction, and to provide ancillary services for all
related activities;
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To attend to the security of the airports and of people, goods,
aircraft, structures, installations, and equipment in these facilities, in
accordance with the directives of the Minister of Transport.
A cardinal principle in Authority operations is that the Authority function
as an independent, financially self-sufficient enterprise.
The Authority is run by a 15-member public board, appointed to a four-year
term of office by the Minister of Transport with Government endorsement. The
board comprises seven public representatives, seven representatives of
government ministries, and a chairperson appointed by the Minister of
Transport with Government approval. The administration is headed by the
Authority director-general, who reports to the board. The organizational
system is divided into four subsystems: Head Office, Ben-Gurion Airport,
Domestic Airports, and Operations.
The Head Office deals primarily with raising capital, managing assets,
financial and budgetary approval and control, setting of standards, labor
management, labor negotiations, and public relations. The Head Office is
also in charge of planning, data processing, international relations, and
developing and promoting new business. The Head Office has the following
subagencies, each headed by a deputy director-general: Economic, Financial,
and Commercial Affairs, Personnel Administration, Planning, Engineering, and
Operations. A Standards and Organization office is headed by a chief
administrator.
Because operations and safety are key issues in the administration of civil
aviation in Israel, an Operations Office was set up in the Authority, under
a deputy director-general. Its 110 employees are specialists in general and
flight control, safety, and navigational aids. The Office manages air
traffic in conjunction with the Israel Air Force, monitors control tower
activities at all Authority airports, and supervises the joint civilian-IAF
control units.
Ben-Gurion International Airport (BGIA) is the Authority's largest
operational unit, with a workforce of some 1,250, under the BGIA Manager for
Operations, Maintenance, and Security. The BGIA Manager is also responsible
for providing operational and maintenance services for Israel's domestic
airports.
Each airport is headed by a manager, appointed by the board with the
approval of the Minister of Transport and on the recommendation of the
Authority director-general. The airport manager is responsible for airport
procedures, operations, and maintenance.
Sources: Israeli Foreign Ministry |