Surprise staff strike at Ben-Gurion Airport brings airport to standstill as check-in counters halt
Employees have reportedly stopped work, despite it being the busiest time of year for air travel, with approximately 600 flights a day.
On Thursday, surprise staff strike at Ben-Gurion Airport brought operations to a screeching halt, with check-in counters ceasing all activities. The Israel Airports Authority reported work disruptions ordered by the airport workers' union, impacting airport services for the public. Around 100,000 passengers were anticipated to traverse the airport on that day, as over 20 American refuelers used parking stands near Terminals 3 and 1, causing delays in luggage transport and passenger transfers to planes without jet bridges.
The Public Transport Authority demanded employees stop any actions that impede regular work and to restore full operations. They strongly condemned any deliberate actions potentially harming the traveling public and the airport's normal functioning, especially during peak summer hours and high operational volumes. The strike employed a work-to-rule strategy, where workers technically fulfilled their duties but slowed down actual work through following official rules and regulations.
This protest method is typically utilized by sectors legally barred from striking, including customs agents, air traffic controllers, baggage handlers, and similar professions. The situation remains fluid as of the latest report.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
