The Airports Authority and Ben Gurion Airport management are tightening measures against pickpockets: In 2024, over 30 administrative and judicial banning orders were issued prohibiting taxi drivers from entering Ben Gurion Airport.
At the same time, over 2,500 reports totaling approximately 1.2 million shekels were issued to taxi drivers who operated at Ben Gurion Airport in violation of the law. In addition, 6 additional requests are currently pending before the Ben Gurion Airport management to issue restraining orders against drivers operating at Ben Gurion Airport in violation of the law.
The Airports Authority says that this is a phenomenon that harms passengers and the image of the State of Israel, and that its eradication is being done in conjunction with all enforcement agencies.
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The Airports Authority recently selected Gett as the taxi company in a tender to manage and operate taxi passenger transportation services from Ben Gurion Airport. Each driver must register in advance, comply with the established rules, and transport passengers in accordance with the rates as stipulated by law.
Thus, in the event of a violation of the rules, the passenger and the company have the option of taking action against the driver.
However, in parallel with the regulation of taxis, there is a phenomenon of taxi drivers who do not operate through a 'get' and do not have a permit to transport passengers from the airport. These drivers entice innocent passengers and tourists to travel with them, in many cases at exorbitant prices and without any supervision, violate public order, resort to verbal and sometimes physical violence against inspectors, park in prohibited places, and more.
The result: harm to the traveling public and public order at Ben Gurion Airport, the gateway to Israel.
In a recent ruling by Judge Raz Navon of the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, the court stated: "Within the framework of the public interest in maintaining public order, there is also the need to protect taxi drivers who act according to the rules and are harmed by forceful behavior that, in practice, robs them of travel. The behavior of the respondent - the driver against whom the judicial proceedings were initiated - which includes not standing in line for taxis, standing in a prohibited place, and soliciting passengers, may lead to anarchy, and the one who will be harmed by this is the public of passengers.".
The court ruled that the driver is prohibited from entering Ben Gurion Airport except as a passenger traveling abroad who holds a valid flight ticket for that day.
The Israeli Transportation Authority calls on the traveling public to use only regulated taxis operating at Ben Gurion Airport, in accordance with the extensive signage posted throughout the terminals.
