A second international airport in Israel will be built at Timna, approximately 18 km north of Eilat on the Red Sea, according to a decision by the Israeli Cabinet on Sunday, 24 July. The construction of the new airport, which is expected to be completed within three years and replace the airports in Eilat and Ovda, will encourage the growth of incoming international tourism traffic.
The total cost of the project is estimated at 1.5 billion NIS, and passenger traffic is expected to be over 1.5 million people a year, from both international and domestic flights. The new airport is expected to bring in at least three times the amount of traffic than the current airport in Eilat.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, the amount of passengers passing through Ben-Gurion International Airport, increases between 3-5% annually. In 2010, 11,485,509 passengers flew internationally, in addition to 674,830 domestic travelers.
The new airport in Timna will be named after the late Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon and his son Assaf. In addition to the airport, a light rail will be established to connect the airport to Eilat, and the central bus station currently in Eilat will also be moved to Timna. Travelers who wish to drive to the airport will have the opportunity to park at an expanded long and short term parking garage.