The decline in the dollar exchange rate unexpectedly turned the summer of 2026 into a window of opportunity for Israelis planning a vacation abroad. Flights, accommodation, shopping, and daily expenses abroad may become noticeably cheaper than in the previous season.
But it is at this moment that great uncertainty arises again around Ben Gurion Airport.
Amid preparations for a possible agreement between the US and Iran, restrictions on airport operations, and the presence of American military aircraft in Israel, some air traffic may face serious disruptions. According to estimates reported by Israeli media, about two million Israelis could potentially receive notifications of flight cancellations if Ben Gurion cannot handle the load.
Why a vacation abroad has become more attractive
For the Israeli consumer, the dollar exchange rate is not an abstract stock market figure. It directly affects the cost of a family trip: tickets, hotel, car rental, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, excursions.
If the dollar depreciates against the shekel, a foreign vacation begins to be perceived differently. What recently seemed like an expensive or risky decision becomes an option again for a family, couple, or group of friends.
Arkia CEO Oz Berlovich explained in an interview with 103FM that the exchange rate difference can save travelers thousands of shekels compared to the previous season. According to him, it’s not just about the ticket price, but the entire trip budget — from accommodation to shopping.
Israelis are looking at August and the holidays again
After a long period when many Israelis were afraid to book far-off dates in advance, the market is starting to revive. Arkia notes an increase in interest not only in upcoming flights but also in August and the Tishrei holidays.
This is an important psychological signal.
People are starting to plan ahead again. Not for tomorrow or the upcoming weekend, but for the end of summer and autumn. For Israel’s tourism market, this means that demand is gradually returning from a cautious waiting mode to a real purchasing mode.
However, the reason is not only the dollar. Decisions are influenced by the feeling that the region may enter a calmer phase if the negotiation process around Iran indeed progresses.
Ben Gurion remains the main bottleneck
The optimism of airlines faces another reality: Ben Gurion Airport operates under non-standard conditions.
According to the original material, part of the airport’s infrastructure is linked to American military activity in Israel. The head of the Israel Airports Authority, Sharon Kadmi, stated on Kan Reshet Bet that about 70% of the airport’s activity is related to the American presence, and losses are already estimated in the hundreds of millions of shekels.
That’s why such a sharp assessment is voiced: if the load remains too high, about two million Israelis may receive notifications of flight cancellations.
For the Israeli audience, this is not just transport news. It’s a matter of family vacations, business, repatriation trips, visits to relatives, business routes, medical flights, and Israel’s connection to the outside world.
American planes and 72 hours of waiting
The material states that if an agreement between the US and Iran is approved, American military planes will have to leave Ben Gurion in a short time. A scenario of withdrawal within 72 hours to the nearest bases in Europe is being considered.
Some planes, as indicated, have already been moved from the airport grounds to a nearby Israeli Air Force base known as Baha 27, which has been reopened.
This may partially free up space for civil aviation.
But here remains a key condition: if the situation escalates again, military activity can quickly return. That is, the aviation market gets a chance to unload but does not receive a full guarantee of stability.
What this means for passengers from Israel
Currently, Israelis face a double picture. On one hand, foreign trips become more advantageous due to the dollar exchange rate. On the other hand, the very fact of departing from Ben Gurion may depend on security, military logistics, and decisions made not by tourist companies but by states.
NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency views this situation as an example of how closely economy, security, and daily life are intertwined in Israel. The same person can see a profitable tour for August in the morning and read in the evening that millions of passengers are potentially at risk of cancellation.
Airlines see demand but do not control the whole picture
Arkia, according to its head, remains optimistic. The company expects that regional calm, the return of foreign carriers, and the release of Ben Gurion’s infrastructure will help restore normal operations.
However, airlines cannot solve the airport load problem alone.
Even if demand grows by hundreds of percent, even if the dollar makes vacations cheaper, even if passengers are ready to book in advance, everything hinges on Ben Gurion’s ability to receive and dispatch flights in the required volume.
For the market, this is a painful paradox: demand returns faster than the infrastructure can emerge from restriction mode.
Antisemitism abroad: fear exists, but no mass changes
Separately, Berlovich commented on Israelis’ concerns about antisemitic incidents in Western countries. According to him, such cases are unpleasant, but in the current work of the airline, they have not led to changes in passenger instructions.
He noted that Arkia operates flights to dozens of destinations and operates 18 aircraft, and regular operational activities continue.
This is an important detail for passengers: fears exist, news of individual incidents affects mood, but according to the company, there are currently no official mass changes in routes and recommendations.
In fact, the main risk for the summer season lies not so much in the foreign destinations themselves but in the operation of the Israeli air hub.
Conclusion: a cheap dollar does not guarantee a calm vacation
Israelis have received a rare combination: a more favorable dollar exchange rate, a growing choice of vacations, and a feeling that the market may start to recover. For families who have postponed trips, this looks like a chance.
But this chance remains fragile.
As long as Ben Gurion operates under military and civilian pressure, any plans for summer and holidays require attention. Booking is possible, but it’s important to read cancellation conditions, follow airline messages, check flight status, and not perceive a low price as a guarantee of a calm trip.
For Israel, this is another reminder: even a vacation here is rarely just a vacation. It goes through the dollar exchange rate, regional security, American presence, negotiations around Iran, and the ability of the country’s main airport to withstand the load.