Ramon International Airport ETM

Ramon Airport, Eilat’s international airport, sits in the Timna Valley in the Negev desert, about 18 km north of Eilat. It opened in January 2019 and replaced the old airport inside the city, while nearby Ovda stopped handling civilian flights. It is the air gateway to Israel’s far south on the Red Sea, used mostly by tourists and by residents travelling to and from Tel Aviv.

Terminals

There is a single, spacious terminal (about 45,000 m²), with arrivals and departures in the same building. You never have to change terminals: domestic and international flights share the same building.

Airlines and destinations

Scheduled flights are mainly domestic, with Israeli carriers such as Arkia, Israir and airHaifa linking Eilat with Tel Aviv and, in airHaifa’s case, Haifa. There are also international flights that change with the season, so always check the schedule before booking.

Services

The terminal has a duty-free shop, cafés and restaurants. The runway is very long (3,600 m), built to take large aircraft. The airport is far from town, so don’t count on popping out for a walk between flights.

Tips

Eilat is a sun-and-diving destination with very hot summers, and the airport stands in the middle of the desert: bring water and a light layer for the air conditioning. On international flights, arrive well ahead of time because of Israeli security checks. Since the city is around 18 km away, leave yourself some margin for the transfer.