- Employees at Ben Gurion Airport began a work-to-rule strike, which halted check-in counters and later arrivals, causing significant disruptions during the peak summer travel season.
- The Airport Authority called on employees to cease actions that could interfere with normal operations and warned of labor court intervention if services were not restored.
- Passengers reported being stuck on planes due to a lack of ground crews, with some stating they were forced to remain aboard their aircraft after landing.
- Transport Minister Miri Regev, currently on a private trip to Morocco, ordered the Airports Authority to petition the Labor Court against the Workers Committee to end the strike.
- Ben Gurion Airport announced it would resume normal operations at 3:00 p.m. local time after having closed at 2:00 p.m. due to the strike.
- The strike is part of a broader labor dispute, with the Transportation Workers' Union stating that they did not issue any directive to cease work, attributing the chaos to a severe manpower shortage.
- Nearly 100,000 passengers are currently passing through Ben Gurion Airport each day on approximately 600 flights, intensifying the impact of the strike during the busy season.
Ben Gurion Airport experienced chaos Thursday as a work-to-rule strike by staff led to the closure of check-in counters, stranding passengers on planes. The disruption coincided with peak summer travel, affecting nearly 100,000 passengers daily and prompting urgent responses from the Airport Authority.67
Employees initiated the strike, citing a severe manpower shortage and inadequate preparations for the summer rush. Passengers reported being stuck on planes, with one stating, "We are on the plane waiting." The Transportation Workers' Union denied issuing a strike directive, calling the situation a result of ongoing operational failures.48
The Airport Authority responded by demanding an end to the disruption, warning of potential legal action if normal operations were not restored. Transportation Minister Miri Regev, currently on vacation in Morocco, labeled the strike as "bullying" and ordered the Authority to seek court intervention. The strike raised concerns about further delays, with the airport managing around 600 flights daily.239
After hours of chaos, normal operations were expected to resume by 3:00 p.m. local time, but the incident highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the airport during its busiest season.
“The disruption came during the airport's busiest period, with nearly 100,000 passengers passing through daily on about 600 flights. Transport Minister Miri Regev, on a private trip to Morocco, ordered the Airports Authority to petition the Labor Court, calling the strike 'bullying.'”
i24NEWS
Israel National News
