Chaos at Ben Gurion Airport as arrivals cease completely
Ground service workers halt passenger handling during the busiest travel period of the year, arrivals grind to complete stop.
The Israel Airports Authority announced that air traffic at Ben Gurion Airport would be reduced starting at 2 p.m. Thursday, with landings halted and departures continuing on a revised schedule. Passengers were advised to stay in contact with their airlines for updates. The workers' committee was responsible for locking the airport parking lots, leaving vehicles stranded.
Heavy crowding and heat contributed to the chaos, with nearly 100,000 passengers and 600 flights affected on a busy travel day. The Histadrut labor federation denied a strike had been called, blaming staffing shortages and poor summer preparations. Workers' committee chairman, Pinchas Idan, had previously warned of a manpower shortage, but the Transportation Minister claimed she had instructed the authority to seek a labor court injunction against the workers.
The Israel Airports Authority blamed the workers' committee for diverting attention from the lack of staffing and inadequate preparation, stating that shutting down the airport during peak season was extreme and harmful to the public.
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