Massive Delays and Check-In Halt Declared Crisis at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport

Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv declared a "crisis event" today due to unprecedented passenger and baggage handling delays. The airport halted all baggage operations to manage the overwhelming congestion, with 140 out of 159 scheduled flights departing late. Passengers faced massive queues at check-in halls, and no clear timeline was given for resuming normal baggage services.

Today, 620 flights are expected to take off or land at Ben Gurion, with over 107,000 travelers passing through. The congestion primarily affected baggage carousels and planes awaiting departure or arrival, prompting airport authorities to slow down flight operations without cancellations. The delays extended across all service points, including check-in counters, security checks, and parking areas.

The crisis stems from multiple factors: fuel tanker parking issues, air traffic congestion in Greece, and significant shortages in airport infrastructure and personnel, especially in baggage handling and security screening. This baggage crisis is not new; passengers reported waiting up to four hours for luggage after a flight from Greece last night, with many bags missing and promised to be delivered later.

Transport Minister Merav Michaeli and her director-general Moshe Ben Zaken are currently on private vacation in Morocco. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited the airport yesterday, praised airport staff dedication. However, airport employees are reportedly struggling with the workload amid accusations from the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) that worker union strikes are deliberately causing disruptions. The IAA has demanded an immediate end to such actions and warned it may seek labor court intervention if disturbances continue. All airport stakeholders are working to minimize the crisis impact and maintain operational continuity and passenger service during this peak travel period.