Ben Gurion Airport Braces for Record Passenger Traffic Ahead of High Holidays

Ben Gurion Airport anticipates a peak travel day with approximately 100,000 passengers on Thursday, just before the Rosh Hashanah holiday. The upcoming High Holidays period is expected to see a total of around 2.5 million travelers passing through the airport, marking the first holiday season since the start of the war with a return to full operational normalcy.

Many foreign airlines have resumed flights to Israel after a months-long suspension, contributing to the expected surge. The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) is implementing extensive measures to prevent disruptions, recalling the major strike that caused significant chaos three weeks prior. Currently, the IAA reports that operations are proceeding as usual.

However, concerns about a potential staff shortage in baggage handling teams, which led to flight delays recently, persist. Employees have noted that additional staffing provided after the August incident has ended, and the deficit is being felt. The exact cause of the August strike remains unclear, but internal investigation data suggests it stemmed from baggage sorting workers leaving their shifts early and refusing overtime.

Separately, Ben Gurion Airport has seen a rise in incidents involving draft dodgers attempting to leave the country. Dozens have been apprehended in recent days, including two who were detained just before boarding a Wizz Air flight to Poland on Wednesday.