Ben Gurion Airport Chief Acknowledges Summer Crowds Causing Hour-Long Baggage Delays

Yiftach Ron-Tal, Chairman of the Israel Airports Authority and retired Major General, addressed the heavy congestion and long wait times at Ben Gurion Airport during a Thursday interview on Kan News and Reshet Bet. He acknowledged that waiting two and a half hours for luggage is unacceptable but said that a one-hour wait during the summer peak is possible due to unprecedented passenger volumes and operational challenges. Over 100,000 passengers have been passing through the airport daily in recent weeks, with more than 600 flights, marking record activity levels not seen before at Ben Gurion.

Ron-Tal attributed some of the congestion to American refueling aircraft occupying civilian airport parking spaces and operating with flexible schedules, increasing air traffic density specifically over Israel. He also blamed European aviation authorities and Eurocontrol for 80% of flight delays, citing overcrowded European airspace, while 20% of delays stem from airport issues. Despite these challenges, he emphasized the airport's commitment to improving service.

To better understand operational difficulties, Ron-Tal personally helped load luggage, highlighting the complexity of airport logistics. He rejected claims that the airport was unprepared for summer crowds, noting that nearly a quarter of parking spots are taken by American military planes and warning that the situation is not yet normalized following recent conflicts.

Regarding future capacity, Ron-Tal outlined plans to nearly double Ben Gurion's size to accommodate up to 40 million passengers over the next decade. He stressed the urgent need for an additional complementary airport, as Ramon Airport currently does not meet demand, warning of a deep-rooted infrastructure problem Israel must resolve.