Ben Gurion Airport Security Staff Asked to Help With Baggage Handling

Ben Gurion Airport management has requested security personnel to assist with baggage handling due to a severe staff shortage. The appeal for "extra hands" comes ahead of the busy High Holy Days, when passenger traffic is expected to surge. Security staff are being asked to volunteer for six-hour shifts in the baggage sorting department during peak hours, according to a Ynet report on Wednesday, September 2.

Incentives for volunteering include gift certificates: 250 shekels for one shift, 400 shekels for two, and 700 shekels for three, as detailed in a letter sent to employees. Airport management described the work as crucial for the airport's smooth operation and urged staff to demonstrate "responsibility and a volunteer spirit."

This request follows an agreement reached just a day prior between the Airports Authority, the workers' committee, and the Histadrut labor federation to expedite hiring and ensure normal airport operations during the holidays. A representative for the workers' committee told Ynet that the airport management's acknowledgment of the staff shortage and their attempt to enlist security personnel highlights the critical need for help during peak periods.

The lack of baggage handlers has been a primary point of contention between the Airports Authority and the workers' committee in recent weeks, leading to significant disruptions. On August 20, 2026, flight arrivals at Ben Gurion were halted for about an hour, causing numerous delays and cancellations, with some passengers flying without their luggage. The Airports Authority accused the workers' committee of a deliberate strike, an accusation denied by committee chairman Pinchas Idan, who cited staff shortages and excessive workloads as the cause of the disruptions.

Approximately 2.5 million passengers are projected to pass through Ben Gurion Airport in September and during the upcoming Jewish holidays. On peak days, September 10, 17, 22, and 25, the airport anticipates serving around 100,000 people daily, with the highest volume expected on September 10, the eve of Rosh Hashanah.