Air cargo volumes at Ben Gurion International Airport remained below last year’s levels during the first five months of 2026, although May showed signs of stabilisation.
The airport handled 30,888 tonnes of cargo in May, down 1.6% from 31,391 tonnes in the same month of 2025.
Despite the modest monthly decline, cargo volumes for the first five months of the year reached 134,677 tonnes, a 12.75% decrease compared with 154,372 tonnes during the same period last year.
The monthly trend highlights a volatile start to 2026.
Cargo volumes increased 11.1% in January and 15.0% in February. They then fell sharply in March before improving in April and returning close to 2025 levels in May.
Dedicated freighters remained the backbone of cargo operations.
Freighter aircraft carried 22,892 tonnes, representing almost 74% of total cargo handled during the month. Passenger aircraft transported the remaining 7,996 tonnes.
Inbound cargo on passenger aircraft increased 10.1% year on year to 4,373 tonnes. Outbound passenger cargo, however, fell 11.1% to 3,623 tonnes.
Among dedicated cargo operators, C.A.L Israeli Cargo remained the largest carrier. The airline handled 8,814 tonnes, accounting for 38.5% of all freighter cargo despite a 5.6% year-on-year decline.
Kalitta Air ranked second with 3,052 tonnes, emerging as a significant operator during the month.
European Air Transport handled 2,839 tonnes, while El Al Israel Airlines increased its freighter cargo volume by 22.7% to 2,697 tonnes.
On passenger aircraft, El Al continued to dominate belly cargo with 5,621 tonnes, representing more than 70% of the total.
Etihad Airways recorded the strongest growth among passenger airlines. The carrier increased belly cargo volumes by 192.4% year on year to 1,272 tonnes.
Belgium remained Ben Gurion Airport’s largest cargo market for dedicated freighters with 5,663 tonnes, followed by Germany with 4,726 tonnes and China with 3,523 tonnes.
The May figures also showed the emergence of Kazakhstan as a new cargo market, while Georgia also recorded freight activity during the month.
Although year-to-date volumes remain below 2025 levels, the May results indicate that cargo throughput has moved closer to last year’s performance after the sharp decline recorded earlier in 2026.
