Kiryat Shmona Airport (KSW)

Kiryat Shmona Airport (KSW), also identified by its ICAO code LLKS, is currently undergoing a significant reactivation and expansion phase as of 2025 and 2026. Following nearly two decades of inactivity, the Israeli government has approved a dedicated plan to reopen the facility for civilian traffic, ending its long-standing status as a closed municipal airstrip. This reactivation is a key component of the "Northern Shield" initiative, designed to provide functional continuity and rapid aerial access to the Upper Galilee region for commercial, medical, and security purposes. The terminal building, originally constructed in 2006, is being modernized and prepared for a steady stream of domestic flights connecting the northern periphery to central Israel. Upon its full reopening, the facility is expected to host direct routes to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) and Ramon Airport (ETM), drastically reducing travel times from several hours by road to approximately 40 minutes by air. The expansion project also integrates the airport into a larger multi-modal transportation hub, which will eventually include a national railway station and a dedicated commercial and housing district in southern Kiryat Shmona. Infrastructure at the airport centers around a 1,348-meter asphalt runway (03/21), managed by Metailey Kiryat Shmona. While initial operations will focus on domestic regional connections, the strategic long-term roadmap aims to develop the airport into a regional hub for the food-tech and business industries in the north. Ground transportation will be well-supported by new infrastructure connecting the terminal to the city center and the proposed rail network, positioning the airport as a central pillar for the economic rehabilitation and growth of the Galilee region in 2026 and beyond.