Machines offering cheaper coffee are being installed in the departures hall.
Two weeks after a protest on Facebook against the price of a cup of coffee at Ben Gurion Airport provoked a discussion in the Knesset, the Israel Airports Authority has announced the installation of four automatic coffee machines in the Terminal 3 departures hall, in the duty-free area. Departing passengers will be able to buy coffee from the machines at NIS 6-7 a cup. This compares with NIS 10-16 at airport cafés.
The Authority also announced that it will install four machines for the sale of sandwiches, at NIS 10 each. Sandwiches cost NIS 31 at the cafés in the terminal.
Passengers on low-cost flights departing from Terminal 1 will from now on be able to enjoy a new deal: a sandwich and a hot drink for NIS 22.
The Authority has also decided not to extend the hospitality franchises at the airport as usual, but to publish new tenders that will stipulate that the prices that the café chains charge will not exceed their average prices in the local market for a basket of products comprising bottled water, coffee, croissants, and sandwiches. Most of the current contracts are due to end in 2014-2015.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 7, 2014
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013
Ben Gurion Airport cafe picture: Tamar Mitzpi