Spontaneous Ben Gurion Airport Strike Costs Israel Up to 30 Million Shekels

A spontaneous strike at Ben Gurion Airport on August 29 caused severe disruptions, resulting in an estimated economic loss of 25 to 30 million shekels, according to the Israeli Ministry of Finance. The strike led to significant flight delays and operational chaos, with many planes departing without passengers' luggage to mitigate the backlog. Full restoration of the flight schedule is expected only by midnight.

The strike ended following a meeting between the CEO of the Airports Authority and the workers' union chairman. The incident sparked sharp political reactions: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Ben Gurion Airport would remain open and warned that anyone obstructing operations would be dismissed. Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, vacationing in Morocco, instructed to petition the Labor Court to halt what she called an "illegal and coercive strike," condemning the workers for holding tens of thousands of Israeli citizens hostage.

Opposition voices criticized the government's handling of the crisis. Keren Turner, a candidate from the "Together" party led by Naftali Bennett, blamed the Transportation Ministry's political appointments and poor management for the disruption, promising reforms. On the other hand, the Transportation Workers Union rejected claims of a sudden strike, attributing the crisis to a chronic shortage of about 400 workers and difficulties in recruitment. Union chairman Pinchas Idan warned of ongoing delays through August, describing the staff as overworked. The Airports Authority responded that dozens of new employees had already been hired to address staffing needs.