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According to Israel Airports Authority data on May 2026 activity at Ben Gurion Airport, a total of 30,888 tons of cargo were handled during this month, representing a 1.6% decrease compared to May 2025, when 31,391 tons were transported.
The data indicates that in May, there was a slight 0.65% decrease in cargo transport via passenger aircraft, with total cargo amounting to 7,996 tons, compared to 8,049 tons in May last year.
Additionally, May saw a slight 0.9% decrease in cargo transported via freighter aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport, totaling 22,892 tons, compared to 23,342 tons in May 2025.
Between January and May 2026, there was a 12.75% decrease in cargo movement at Ben Gurion Airport, totaling 134,677 tons, compared to 154,372 tons during the same period last year. It should be noted that the decline in cargo volume does not necessarily indicate a drop in demand, as the available supply for cargo operations decreased during these months due to the suspension of operations by foreign airlines to Israel following security instability.
According to official cumulative data from the Israel Airports Authority for the period of January-May 2026, the air cargo market at Ben Gurion Airport experienced significant upheaval following "Operation Lion's Roar," which began in late February. This led to a drastic reduction in belly cargo capacity on passenger planes and shifted the focus to dedicated freighters.
Top Five Leaders in Dedicated Freighter Transport, Cumulative January-May 2026
Freighter aircraft formed the backbone of air trade during this period. The Challenge Group, operating a fleet of Boeing 747 and 767 aircraft, continues to lead the market securely.
| Rank | Airline | Cumulative Volume (Tons) | Key Operational Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Challenge Airlines (CAL) | 41,336 | Undisputed market leader. Operates daily flights to Liège (LGG) and global destinations, based on a fleet of Boeing 747 and 767. |
| 2 | EL AL Cargo | 11,637 | EL AL's cargo division significantly strengthened its freighter operations to Frankfurt and Liège. |
| 3 | Kalitta Air | 9,634 | The American cargo airline that maintained a stable and continuous air bridge to the State of Israel. |
| 4 | European Air Transport | 4,040 | The central and vital flight arm of DHL in Europe. |
| 5 | Centrum Air | 3,936 | A relatively new and strong Uzbek player that established its operational position at Ben Gurion Airport. |
Top Five Leaders in Belly Cargo Transport, Cumulative January-May 2026
Due to the suspension of many flights by foreign carriers starting in March, EL AL Cargo secured absolute dominance in this category by utilizing its fleet of wide-body passenger aircraft.
| Rank | Airline | Cumulative Volume (Tons) | Market Share and Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EL AL | 18,653 | Holds a massive market share of over 70% in passenger aircraft during the crisis period. |
| 2 | United Airlines | 2,447 | Maintained a strong presence in the first months of the year on trans-atlantic routes. |
| 3 | Etihad Airways | 2,196 | Became a critical gateway for cargo flow to and from the Far East via Abu Dhabi. |
| 4 | Air France | 1,372 | Showed significant belly cargo volumes mainly in January-February. |
| 5 | Hainan Airlines | 1,059 | Provided a direct and important link to China (Shanghai/Shenzhen) for cargo shipments before the temporary suspension of activity. |
The security crisis of 2026 has once again proven that in times of emergency, the Israeli market relies almost entirely on carriers with strong local ties and physical assets, such as Challenge Group and EL AL, which are capable of ensuring operational continuity even under fire.
