Disruptions at airport, trains
Despite end of strike, flights out of Ben Gurion resumed only at 11 a.m.; airport officials not sure why. Citizens also complain about train delays
Although the National Labor Court ordered workers to return to work immediately Thursday morning and end the general strike in the public sector, flights out of Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport commenced only at 11 a.m.
Airport officials said in response, “We are not sure why the activity was disrupted."
Meanwhile, the workers committee claimed that the workers had gone back to work as usual.
Thursday morning, the strike was still felt as five cargo jets waited to be unloaded. In addition, a passenger flight to Eilat was delayed on the runway, as it waited for clearance to take off.
In total, 66 departures and 62 landings were expected at Ben Gurion Airport Thursday. In the morning the airport was not so crowded since most foreign aircrafts did not arrive in Israel at all.
Ben Gurion Airport Wednesday night. It's not over yet (Photo: Niv Calderon)
The workers committee explained that they are back to work as usual, but that there may have been a delay in some of the workers’ arriving at work.
Train troubles
Many Israelis reported delays and disruptions in the train schedule throughout the country Thursday morning as well.Ruth Castel, one of the people affected by the delays said, “The trains were supposed to commence at 7 a.m.… We arrived at the station and it was all locked up. People were waiting outside helplessly. I ended up taking my son and another boy to Tel Aviv by car. Another boy called Israel Railways (Israel’s train company) to ask what was going on; he was told that the station would open at a quarter to eight.”
The train’s spokesperson explained that it took a few hours of equipment preparation before being able to return to usual activity. Security and safety preparations also had to be made before re-opening.
Roee Mendel and Anat Bereshkovsy contributed to the report
