A check-in strike at Ben Gurion Airport caused chaos and heavy congestion Thursday, one of the busiest travel days of the year, with nearly 100,000 passengers and 600 flights scheduled. Due to the strike, pilots and airlines were informed that it would close at 2:00 p.m.
“The Israel Airports Authority is currently dealing with work disruptions, under the direction of the workers’ committee, which are affecting operational activity and service to the traveling public,” the authority said.
Management called on employees to immediately stop any action harming normal operations and restore full activity. “The authority views seriously any deliberate action that could harm the traveling public and the proper functioning of Ben Gurion Airport, especially during the summer peak and at a time of high traffic volumes,” it said.
The authority warned that if the disruptions continue, it intends to make an urgent appeal to the Labor Court and seek its intervention. Officials at the airport were working to minimize the impact and maintain operational continuity as much as possible, the statement added.
Transportation industry sources said that if the disruption is found to be an undeclared slowdown during the height of the travel season, there could be serious consequences for employees involved.
All check-in stations were instructed to halt service because of the dispute, leading to rapidly growing lines and confusion in the terminals.
The shutdown also overwhelmed airline and travel agency service centers with calls from passengers. Some were stranded abroad and seeking information about return flights, while others were stuck in Israel unable to complete check-in.
Unusually heavy congestion at Ben Gurion Airport this week
“In the past half hour, I’ve been overwhelmed with calls from clients stranded at various airports who have no idea what is happening with their flights home or how many hours they may be delayed because of the chaos at Ben Gurion Airport,” veteran travel agent Yaki Lavi said.
The Israeli aviation sector is already dealing with a series of disruptions, including long delays and unusually heavy congestion at Ben Gurion Airport. Recent problems have been attributed in part to refueling disruptions at the airport, air traffic congestion over Greece and staffing shortages.
Transport Minister Miri Regev is currently in Marrakesh for the renewal of Arkia’s route to Morocco.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Regev visited Ben Gurion Airport only a day earlier, where they were briefed on its operational activity during the summer season. At the time, operations appeared to be functioning normally. The situation on Thursday looked very different.
Benjamin Netanyahu and Miri Regev visit at Ben Gurion Airport
Staff shortages?
Current and former Ben Gurion Airport employees have argued that many of the recent delays stem from inadequate preparation for the summer season and a shortage of workers. They say the Airports Authority’s employment model leads to high staff turnover and means too few workers are sometimes recruited in time for peak travel periods.
“That’s how it always is,” one employee said. “There’s a huge amount of work and not enough staff. Every winter, veteran employees who are getting close to permanent status are let go, and then by summer there aren’t enough workers.”