Breaking Update
Israel to Reopen Kiryat Shmona Airport As Part of Plan to Revive Northern Economy After Two Years of War
Israel reopens Kiryat Shmona Airport to revive northern economy after two years of war, with a plan to boost communities and provide flight services with a 10.
Jerusalem, 1 February, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Miri Regev granted a license to reactivate the Kiryat Shmona airfield. The announcement came after the government held its weekly meeting today (Sunday) in the city. The government said it approved a “series of decisions to strengthen, restore, and grow northern communities,” that are centered on promoting the reactivation of airfield.
The decision comes after the region where Kiryat Shmona is located, known as the “Finger of the Galilee” since it stretches northward on the eastern border with Lebanon, suffered economic devastation over the past two years due to the war and attacks by Hezbollah terrorists based in Lebanon.
The dedicated plan for operating the airstrip was approved after more than 20 years in which it did not operate for commercial flights. The move includes promoting a flight service tailored to residents of the north, center, and south of the country, with a budget of approximately 10 million Shekels ($3.2 million) per year, as well as providing regulatory approval for operating the airstrip in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
“The airstrip constitutes a national infrastructure asset of strategic importance to the North, and is expected to be used both in routine to strengthen the economic, tourist and business connection and in times of emergency, as a central component in functional continuity, for rapid air accessibility for security, medical needs and for rescue and rescue operations,” said the government in a statement.
