Crete ranks among top destinations for Israeli travelers as Ben Gurion traffic rises 20% in August
Greece, Cyprus, Italy and the United Arab Emirates were the most popular destinations for Israeli travelers in recent months, according to data from Israel’s Airports Authority based on passenger traffic at Ben Gurion Airport.
Among individual cities, Athens, Crete, Rhodes and Larnaca were the most sought-after destinations in Greece and Cyprus, the authority’s figures show. German tour operators have separately listed Crete among their top picks for autumn family holidays, reflecting the island’s broader appeal to international visitors.
Ben Gurion Airport recorded a 20% increase in traffic this August compared with the same month last year, with approximately 2.65 million passengers passing through the airport, the authority said.
Airline market share
Among Israeli carriers, El Al took the largest share of the August market, carrying approximately 812,000 passengers for a 30% market share, according to the data. Israir followed with 345,000 passengers and Arkia with 323,000. Blue Bird came fourth, serving more than 228,000 passengers and placing ahead of Wizz Air.
Looking at the period since January, Greece and Cyprus have remained the most in-demand countries for Israeli travelers, followed by the United States and Italy, the authority said. Among cities over that longer period, Athens ranked first, followed by Larnaca, Dubai and Paris.
The figures come as Crete continues to see strong international visitor interest across the season, with Chania airport passenger traffic topping 3.1 million so far in 2026. Regional data has also pointed to uneven overtourism pressure across the island as arrivals hit record highs, according to figures cited by regional authorities.
