Ben Gurion Airport Faces Severe Delays and Chaos Hours Before Sabbath

Just hours before the Sabbath, Ben Gurion Airport in Israel experienced significant disruptions, causing frustration for thousands of passengers. Flights were delayed, luggage handling was slow, and families with children faced long waits on Friday. Passengers reported waiting inside planes for extended periods after boarding due to unprocessed baggage, while those arriving had to wait a long time to collect their luggage.

The Israel Airports Authority denied any strike by baggage handlers, attributing the delays to an unusual surge of about 90 flights within three hours and airspace restrictions over Europe, particularly near Greece, compounded by the activity of American refueling aircraft. Approximately 90,000 passengers were expected to pass through the airport on about 600 flights, marking one of the busiest days of the summer.

Transportation Minister Merav Regev acknowledged the complexity of the current period, citing the combination of summer travel peaks and security and aviation constraints. Efforts are underway to maintain regular flight operations and minimize passenger impact, though airspace congestion continues to affect airport activity in Israel.