JERUSALEM, June 8 (Xinhua) -- International passenger traffic through Israel's Ben Gurion Airport rose by 50 percent in the first five months of 2025 compared with the same period last year, the Israel Airports Authority said on Sunday.

A total of 6.87 million passengers passed through the airport from January to May, up from 4.58 million in the same period in 2024.

The increase comes as international airlines gradually return to Israel, following a ceasefire with Hezbollah along the Lebanese border in November 2024 and a truce in Gaza in January.

Dubai was the most popular destination, handling nearly half a million passengers, almost double the number seen in early 2024. Athens, Paris, and Larnaca were also among the top destinations. ■