|
Trending Topics
|
Israel Opens New International Airport near Eilat
(Jerusalem Post) Eytan Halon - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu inaugurated the new Ramon Airport near Eilat on Monday, named in memory of astronaut Ilan and pilot Assaf Ramon. Located 18 km. north of Eilat in the Timna Valley, the $460 million airport will replace Eilat and Ovda airports for commercial flights. The airport is the first entirely civilian airport to open since Israel's independence. It will also serve as a backup option for large aircraft in the case of rocket fire or inclement weather at Ben-Gurion Airport. Eilat has witnessed rapid growth in tourist demand. In 2015, there were 4 weekly flights between Eilat and Europe. This winter there were 57 weekly flights. Due to the airport's proximity to the Jordanian border, a 4.5 km., 26-meter-high smart fence was constructed to protect incoming and departing aircraft from a range of cross-border threats, including missile fire.