Ovda (Israel) is an airport of international importance, located 65 km from popular resort Eilat. Beach season continues here all year round, the temperature is always +25°C, and the fact that a visa is not required for Israel attracts tourists even more. Ovda Airport is ready to meet them all.

Description

IATA code: VDA

Address: Ovda Airport, Be'er Sheva, Israel

Opening date: 1981

Website: http://www.iaa.gov.il/en-us/rashot/pages/default.aspx

Phone: +1 700 705 022

Initially, Uvda Airport served the military, but then switched to civilian flights, and now operates domestic and international flights. Interestingly, both names - Ovda and Uvda - are acceptable.

Additional Information! VDA is an airport that was built by the USA.

In Israel, Ovda is the second most important airport after Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv, but it is from here that you can easily reach neighboring countries and the Dead Sea, and flights from Russia here are sometimes much cheaper than to the capital of Israel.

The significance of this transport hub is enormous, but it is planned to close soon domestic flights, build new airport closer to the city, this means that Ovda’s role will become smaller.

About 10 flights are operated daily, tourist season- more. Charter flights also land here.

Tourists flying into VDA often head to Eilat or directly to the Jordanian border in the city of Aqaba. The border can only be crossed in three places, and the crossing between Eilat and Aqaba is considered the most convenient, but you just have to remember that you have to pay for it. There are also departures from Ovda airport sightseeing buses to the main attraction of Jordan - ancient city Peter, but there is a nuance: if you go to the country for only 1 day, admission ticket Petra will be more expensive, so it is recommended to stay in Jordan for at least 3 days.

Online flight board

The online display of all flights can be found on the official website - http://www.iaa.gov.il/en-US/airports/eilatn/Pages/Online-flight.aspx. The scoreboard displays the following information:

  • name of the air carrier;
  • flight number;
  • departure/arrival airport;
  • scheduled landing time;
  • estimated time;
  • terminal;
  • flight status.

Note! There is currently* no opportunity to view the online scoreboard of Ovda Airport (Israel) in Russian.

How to get there

You can get to the city from VDA airport by:

  • Bus number 282. Runs after every plane landing, the ride is about an hour. The bus is coming to the bus station in the city center, Ending station- Taba on the border with Egypt. The cost of the trip is approximately 25 shekels*, if you go straight back and forth, then about 45 shekels*. The bus runs daily.
  • Bus No. 392. Performs 5 trips a day, Saturday is a day off, the route can be viewed on the map. The inconvenience is that it does not drive directly to the airport terminal, but stops on Highway No. 12.
  • Shuttles are commercial minibuses. It’s better to book online; they usually go straight to the hotel with the desired stops. The cost of the trip is about 10 dollars*, the ride takes about an hour. Shuttles are often booked for transfer to the borders with Jordan and Egypt.
  • Taxi. Israel is an expensive country, so this option cannot be called a budget option. Taxis can be ordered in advance, then tourists will be waited and greeted with a sign, but ordinary taxi drivers also often stand here looking for clients. The trip will take 50 minutes, cost from 100 dollars*. Taxi drivers also operate flights to the nearest borders.

If you need to get from the airport in Israel to the Dead Sea, then this cannot be done by direct flight; you will first have to take a bus to Eilat itself, and from there from the station take bus number 444, which goes to the sea in Ein Bokek and Neve Zohar. The cost is about 45 shekels*, the ride will take 2.5 hours, since the distance is quite long - about 250 km.

Additional Information! In Israel, Saturday is considered a day off; buses and even shuttles may not run on this day of the week, so you need to agree with the carrier in advance and ask them for details.

Parking

There are no parking spaces for private cars on the airport premises. The nearest parking lot is 1.5 km from the air complex, but it is spontaneous. The workers themselves get here by public transport, because it is more convenient and cheaper.

There is only one terminal, the airport itself is quite small. There is an arrival hall and a departure hall, where it is quite comfortable to wait for your flight. The waiting rooms are quite spacious and comfortable, there are places where you can recharge your phone, have a snack, exchange money and learn about the city.

The airfield is quite small: the runway is only 1,900 meters long; passengers walk to the planes, since there are no hoses or air transport here.

Services

The infrastructure is still not very developed for tourists, because the airport was once military. In the waiting rooms, passengers have access to:

  • vending machines with snacks, tea, juice, coffee;
  • small cafe;
  • a relaxation room where you can stay with children.

On the territory of the airport there is a souvenir shop, a bookstore, and several boutiques.

WiFi

There is no Wi-Fi in Ovda. The closest access point is at a nearby hotel. The authorities are planning to conduct the Internet, but have not yet announced terms and dates.

Hotels in the transit zone

There is only a lounge in the terminal itself, but there are hotels nearby that you can walk to. The remaining facilities are located a few kilometers from the airport.

Nearest hotels:

Many of them are located within a radius of 1 km from the airport and have several stars, so the prices are quite high.

If you need to find a budget option, then you need to go to Eilat itself. You can find two- and three-star hotels for 4,000 rubles per night*. If the star rating of the hotel is not important, then hotels near the sea can be found for 1,200 rubles per day*. In this city you can even live in a hotel in the desert.

Which airlines fly

There are two types of flights:

  • Regular, according to a schedule, several times a day or week.
  • Charter flights are carried out during the holiday season and are usually ordered by a tour operator.

Regular ones include:

  • Aeroflot. Operates flight Moscow - Eilat.
  • Arkia. Israeli airline operates flights to Haifa, Tel Aviv.
  • El Al. National Israeli carrier. Flies to London, Paris, Tel Aviv.
  • IsrAir. Based in Tel Aviv, but from Ovda flies to Haifa, Moscow.
  • Germania. There are flights to Berlin.
  • Russia. Flies only to St. Petersburg.
  • Vim-Avia. Destination - Moscow.
  • Ryanair. The largest European low-cost airline, flies to Kaunas, Krakow, Bratislava, Budapest.

Charter flights are carried out by:

  • Arkefly from TUI. There are flights to Amsterdam.
  • Nordwind Airlines. Frequently operates flights to Krasnodar, Samara, Rostov-on-Don.
  • First Choice Airways. Usually flies from Manchester.

Israeli companies (for example, Arkia) also operate charter flights.

U Russian airlines, in particular, Rossiya and Nordwind have sales and you can buy round-trip tickets from any city for less than 10 thousand rubles*.

Flying within the country is quite expensive; tourists prefer to travel from Eilat to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem by bus or rented car.

Eilat is an excellent resort with clear sea And great beaches. In the city you can go diving, look at historical sights, and if you get tired of Israel during your vacation, then there are two nearby interesting countries, which can be easily reached from this city.

Although VDA Airport in Israel has one floor and a short runway, it is capable of handling tens of thousands of passengers per year and up to 10 flights per day.

Despite the authorities’ plans to build an airport closer to the city, Ovda has not yet lost its importance, and at any moment it could again be converted to meet the needs of the military.

*Information and prices are current as of June 2018.

Now, in 2016, getting from Ovda to Eilat is not difficult. Here we consider various options for how to get from Ovda Airport to Eilat, the Dead Sea (Ein Bokek), Jerusalem and Tel Aviv: by public and commercial transport, as well as by individual transfer or taxi. This article shows Ovda airport on the map of Israel and also gives distances to Eilat, the Dead Sea and other cities.

Eilat, Israel

Ovda Airport on the map of Israel

Below on the map of Israel is Ovda Airport (Uvda), as well as the main resorts and tourist cities and other airports:

Explanation of symbols on the map of Israeli airports:

  • Airplane– Ovda International Airport (Ovda) and Ben Gurion
  • Helicopter – domestic airports Israel
  • House– cities and resorts of Israel (Eilat, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Netanya, Dead Sea, Haifa, Tiberias).

Distance from Ovda Airport to Eilat and the Dead Sea

This section presents the mileage from Ovda Airport (Ovda) to Eilat, the Dead Sea, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

  • Distance Ovda Airport – Eilat – 59 km.
  • Distance Ovda Airport – Dead Sea (Ein Bokek) – 169 km.
  • Distance Ovda Airport – Tel Aviv – 295 km.
  • Distance Ovda Airport – Jerusalem – 276 km.

How to get from Ovda Airport to Eilat

Until recently, getting from Ovda to Eilat was not so easy and very expensive. Those arriving at Uvda had to pay more for a taxi from the airport to Eilat than the cost of an air ticket to Israel. Out of desperation, tourists looked for sophisticated ways to save money. For example, some were able to get to the resort by bus No. 392, which runs from Beersheba several times a day and which still had to be reached from the airport. Since the end of 2015, everything has changed for the better - now public buses and commercial shuttles run from Ovda to Eilat, which adjust to the flight schedule.

From Ovda Airport to Eilat by public transport

Just recently, Israel's main bus carrier Egged launched public bus No. 282, which adapts to flights to/from Ovda Airport (Uvda). Surprisingly, buses run even on Shabbat. Ticket price – 25 shekels ( 6,5$ ), round trip ticket – 42.5 shekels ( 10,9$ ). Payment is accepted in cash or at Eilat bus ticket offices (when traveling from Eilat to Ovda). Money can be exchanged at the airport.

From Ovda Airport to Eilat, bus No. 282 departs 45 minutes from the moment the plane lands. If the flight is delayed, the bus will depart later.

In the opposite direction from Eilat to Ovda Airport, bus No. 282 leaves from the Taba border crossing 3.5 hours before departure. Accordingly, for all stopping points It is recommended to be at least 3 hours 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of the aircraft. Details can be found on the official website egged.co.il.


Stops on the route Ovda – Eilat

Ovda – Eilat, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem by commercial bus (shuttle)

You can order and pay for a shuttle from Ovda Airport to Eilat online at eilatshuttle.com. Ticket price from Ovda to Eilat – 8$ per person. Delivery is carried out to the hotel. You must pay and print your ticket in advance; payment is not accepted on site. The site is Russified, so there should be no difficulties. But if you suddenly have questions, you can always contact the support service through the “Contacts” menu. The same company is engaged in delivery along the route Ovda Airport - and Tel Aviv for 35$ , as well as to Jordanian Aqaba and Egyptian Taboo for 25 $ .

From Ovda to Eilat by taxi/transfer

If you are flying as a family, especially with children, it would be more advisable to get from Ovda to Eilat by taxi (private transfer). There have been cases when a passenger was detained at passport control. The reasons can be different: Arab appearance, a suspicious surname or an Egyptian stamp in the passport. Either way, this happens sometimes. During this time, the bus can leave, but an individual car cannot. Transfer will cost from 100-140$ . You can order in advance online. Upon arrival at the airport you will be expected with a sign.

Second way to order private transfer— go to the excursion website sputnik8.com. There are many different individual and group excursions offered there, including car ride on the route Eilat-Airport for 64$ . That is, if you are traveling with a family or a group of 3-4 people, then this will be the best option in terms of price/comfort ratio.

From Ovda Airport to the Dead Sea (Ein Bokek)

From Ovda Airport to the Dead Sea directly public transport impossible to reach. If you want to save money, you will first have to go south to Eilat 60 km, and then north 206 km. From Eilat to Dead Sea Bus number 444 runs several times a day. It takes 2.5 hours to get to Ein Bokek and Neve Zohar for 42.5 shekels ( 10,9$ ). Transfer to the Dead Sea will cost from 250$.

I hope my description and map of Israel with Ovda Airport (Ovda) helped you. And if you have any questions or know other ways to get from Ovda airport to Eilat, the Dead Sea and other cities in Israel, write about it in the comments.

Marina and Konstantin Samorosenk O

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Ovda Airport: how to get to the airport, official website, telephone numbers, flights, taxi to the airport, service and services of Eilat Airport.

On March 18, 2019, Ovda Airport closed and was replaced by the international airport named after. Ilana and Asaf Ramonov.

Ovda International Airport (sometimes Ovda) is the second most popular and largest airport in Israel. The airport is located 60 km from Eilat, the southernmost city of the country and also a popular resort. The airport was originally built for the needs of the military, but later acquired civilian functions. Uvda successfully accommodates heavy aircraft that cannot land at Eilat airport due to the runway being too short.

The airport took its name from the operation that became the last during Israel's War of Independence. During Operation Uvda they were liberated southern territories and the Eilat area.

Ovda Airport is named after the military operation of the same name that ended the Israeli War of Independence and brought freedom to the south of the country.

By 2017, Ovda Airport may return to serving only military aircraft. The basis for the cancellation of his civil functions will be the completion of the construction of a new international airport Eilat.

Ovda Airport Terminal

Ovda Airport has one passenger terminal serving both domestic and international flights, mostly charter.

Services

The airport has retained the features of military specialization, which are most clearly manifested in a very narrow range of services. There are no ATMs in Ovda, so you should take care of cash in advance. There are two currency exchange points, the rate there is noticeably different from the city one. The airport lounge is small but comfortable, where you can relax and have a small snack. In Ovda you can buy souvenirs and various little things for the trip, there is Duty Free.

Tax free

Eilat is a duty-free zone, so prices for goods are shown without VAT. But if purchases were made in other areas of Israel, then you can apply for tax free by going to the counter marked VAT Refund.

How to get to the airport

Ovda Airport in Israel is considered the second largest after Ben Gurion. It is located 60 kilometers from Eilat, a city in southern Israel. It was built as a military airport in 1980. In addition, it accepted aircraft transporting people on a commercial basis. The territory allowed small planes to land, since each runway was only 1900 meters.

It was assumed that Ovda would end its existence as a civilian airport by the beginning of 2010. Not far from it, the walls of a new structure were erected, originally built as a civil airport. But even today it is not completed. The name comes from the name of the military operation that put an end to the actions and declared the freedom of mankind.

Flights Moscow Ovda

In the "City of Arrival" field, start typing the word "Eilat" and select from the suggestions that pop up Eilat VDA.

Distance from Ovda to Eilat

The distance of Ovda Eilat is exactly 60 kilometers along Highway 12 in Israel.

How to get from Ovda to Eilat and from Eilat to Ovda

Now there is no need to order a transfer. Since the end of October 2015, bus number 282 has been running from the airport to Eilat.

Here is an example of the schedule of this bus on the glass of the Information center at the bus station in Eilat. As you can see, the bus leaves exactly 3 hours before the plane departs.

Information about bus number 282 Ovda-Eilat-Ovda from the website of the bus company egged.co.il.

In English.

Ovda, where is this

From Ovda to Eilat the distance is exactly 59 km. Aqaba is approximately 75 kilometers away.

The airport can be reached from the city of Beersheba by hourly city bus No. 392. An alternative way is to take a taxi. There is an electronic terminal in the building itself where you can call it by indicating your final destination. While you wait for a taxi, you can sit comfortably in duty-free.

The price will depend on the class of the car, as well as seats. The average price for one passenger to the city of Eilat is 20 dollars, and to the sea 50 dollars. You can and should negotiate with the drivers of this type of transport. This way you can reduce the price of a trip to $80, with a minimum trip of $100.

If a person ordered a trip, then he drives up to the airport tourist bus, provides a map showing the most interesting places. Sometimes people board these buses without a ticket. But usually drivers identify such people who like to ride for free.

Ovda airport board

Online flight board Ovda.
Services

The airport is considered military, so the interior design is sparse. There are no ATMs, so it is better to take care of cash in advance. There is an exchange office, but their exchange rate differs too unfavorably from that in the city. The hall is small, comfortable, there is a place where you can eat and buy souvenirs.

At the airport you can find:

1. One terminal. 2. The terminal has book Shop, souvenir, cosmetics salon and boutiques. They constantly have promotions and discounts.3. There is always a children's room in the terminal.4. There are restaurants and cafes on site where you can have a snack.5. There is a hotel near the airport. The airport operates frequent flights to cities such as: 1. Moscow-Ovda. in Sheremetyevo. 2. London. 3. Paris. 4. Haifa.5. Berlin. 6. Amsterdam. 7. Manchester. 8. Arkia. 9. Tallinn.

Weather

The weather in Eilat in the surrounding areas is changeable. Summers are dry and hot with temperatures up to +45 degrees, winters are warm with little precipitation and temperatures from +22 to +26 degrees.

Resort city of Eilat

Travelers to the resort are especially attracted to the Eilat Observatory, where they can get acquainted with the inhabitants of the marine world. Excellent five-star hotels in Israel add to the elegance of the resort. Equipped on the seashore beach places. Rich sea ​​world attracts many people who study its features. But the main attraction is the coral reefs.

In 1966, a sign was placed on the beach area announcing the beach nature reserve. In this city you can purchase goods at low prices, and these purchases are not subject to state taxes.

Most people in Eilat work in the tourism industry. This is explained by the fact that thousands of tourists visit this city every year. There are many hotels of different classes there. In the city, any citizen can find an establishment to suit their taste: nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, cafes. Eilat receives various ships and oil tankers.

Ovda International Airport (Eilat Ovda Airport) is located approximately 60 kilometers north of Eilat.

Coordinates: 29°56′N; 34°56′E

Code: VDA

Official website of Ovda Airport: www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/Ovda

Ovda airport scoreboard online

Below is the Ovda airport schedule. On the display you will see a schedule of departures and arrivals according to local time, points of departure and destination, flight numbers and airline names.

In addition, you can get information about flight schedules and prices for flights either on the page about tickets to Eilat, or using the search form (to do this you will have to enter the required information in the required fields):

How to get from Ovda Airport to Eilat

It goes from Ovda to Eilat several times a day regular bus No. 392 (flies from Baer Sheva; stops at the airport). A taxi ride to Eilat will cost approximately US$50.

In the diagram below you can see a map of the airport's surroundings. To zoom in on the image, double-click with the left mouse button, and to remove it, double-click with the right mouse button.

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There is a menu at the top right of the image. By default, the "Maps" item opens. The “Satellite” item will allow you to see photos of the airport’s surroundings taken from space.