Israel Airports Authority chief warns those behind Ben-Gurion strike will 'pay the price'

One day after a surprise strike at Ben-Gurion Airport disrupted operations, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yiftah Ron Tal, chairman of the Israel Airports Authority, condemned the action on Friday on 103FM. He deemed the strike as bullying and intolerable behavior, stating that those responsible would face consequences. Ron Tal expressed regret over the distress and damage caused to passengers, who were still waiting extended periods to receive their luggage.

He emphasized that the steps taken would be both administrative and legal. Despite defending airport employees, who worked under challenging conditions during the war and today, Ron Tal called out the behavior as unacceptable. He affirmed that the authority would examine the incident in the coming days to identify the responsible parties who would face repercussions.

Ron Tal defended the airport employees' efforts, stating they had maintained operations under difficult circumstances and deserved respect. He also highlighted structural issues at the airport, including an inverted pyramid of temporary workers to permanent staff, which he believed required change. Ron Tal dismissed claims of a shortage of baggage handlers, suggesting verification of the number if true.

He dismissed claims about the working hours of airport workers, stating they worked 12 hours with a break between flights. Normal operations had resumed at Ben-Gurion Airport, with 16 flights canceled and the airport operating at full capacity.