Ben Gurion International Airport

Current Status

Ben Gurion International Airport remains operational as Israel's primary international gateway. However, since late 2023, the airport has become the world's most GPS-spoofed major commercial airport. Aircraft operating within approximately 100 nautical miles of TLV experience persistent and severe GNSS interference, affecting both GPS and, at times, GLONASS signals. The spoofing environment has fundamentally altered how carriers approach operations into Tel Aviv.

EASA and ICAO have issued multiple information bulletins regarding the degraded navigation environment across the Eastern Mediterranean. Israel's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAI) maintains ILS approaches as the primary procedural mitigation and has published revised guidance for crews operating in GNSS-denied conditions.

Key Risks

• GPS spoofing — persistent and severe. Reported spoofing events exceed thousands per month across the region. Aircraft navigation systems receive false position data, with some reports indicating phantom positions hundreds of miles from actual location. EUROCONTROL has documented this as the most intense spoofing corridor globally.
• ILS dependency. With GNSS unreliable, all approaches effectively require ILS capability. RNAV approaches are unreliable and in practice unavailable. Aircraft without functioning ILS equipment or crews not current on ILS procedures face diversion.
• Carrier suspensions. Multiple low-cost carriers and some full-service airlines have periodically suspended TLV service citing the security environment and insurance costs. War risk insurance premiums for Israel operations increased significantly from late 2023.
• GPWS false alerts. Spoofed position data has triggered false Ground Proximity Warning System alerts on approach, creating potential for unsafe crew responses. EASA Safety Information Bulletin 2024-02 addressed this directly.
• Regional conflict environment. The broader security situation in Israel and the surrounding region continues to affect insurance costs, carrier willingness, and airspace availability. Iron Dome and other defense systems form the airport's security perimeter.

Recent Events

Airlines Operating

Carriers with strong inertial reference system (IRS) capability and experience with GNSS-denied operations have maintained service. Airlines with modern IRS-equipped fleets — including Emirates, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines — continue operating, though some with reduced frequency. El Al, as the national carrier, maintains full schedules with enhanced security protocols.

Several low-cost carriers, including some European budget airlines, have suspended or significantly reduced TLV service. Insurance requirements and crew training considerations are reported factors in carrier decisions.

Approach & Navigation

ILS approaches to Runways 26 and 30 remain the operational standard. RNAV approaches, which depend on GNSS, are effectively unavailable due to the spoofing environment. Pilots are advised to cross-check IRS positions against VOR/DME and to disregard GPS-derived position data within the affected area.

CAAI publishes regular NOTAMs regarding the GNSS environment. EUROCONTROL maintains a dedicated page tracking GPS interference in the region. Crews should review current NOTAMs and operator-specific guidance before dispatch to TLV.

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