Sudden Strike at Ben Gurion Airport Halts Flights, Leaves Thousands Stranded

On Thursday, during the peak holiday travel season, employees of the Israel Airports Authority launched an unexpected strike, shutting down the main entry point to Israel. Check-in counters closed, dozens of flights were delayed, and approximately 100,000 passengers were stranded at Ben Gurion Airport and other international airports. Many travelers reported receiving no updates or explanations for about an hour and a half, and some flights that did depart left without passengers' luggage.

The strike occurred just one day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Miri Regev visited Ben Gurion Airport following the Likud party primaries. The workers had attempted to disrupt Minister Regev's flight the previous day, with union chairman Pinchas Idan sarcastically telling her to "celebrate in Morocco." In response, Regev warned that those holding Israeli citizens hostage would pay a heavy price.

Foreign and Israeli airlines expressed strong frustration with the airport's management throughout the season, especially on the strike day. Israel Airports Authority chairman Yiftach Ron-Tal condemned the unilateral and aggressive actions of the workers, emphasizing that the severe staff shortages did not justify such disruptive behavior on the busiest day of the year. He confirmed that operations have since returned to full capacity with reinforced teams.

The Histadrut labor federation highlighted that the chaos was not solely due to the strike but stemmed from a prolonged and severe manpower shortage and inadequate preparation for summer crowds. The Transportation Workers Union had repeatedly warned airport management and the Transportation Ministry about insufficient staffing to handle expected passenger volumes. Histadrut stressed that airport workers are overworked and cannot compensate indefinitely for systemic understaffing.

The Israel Airports Authority criticized the strike as an extreme and unnecessary move that primarily harms the public, noting ongoing intensive recruitment efforts that have already added dozens of new employees. They called for disputes to be resolved responsibly without burdening travelers. Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David stated he was informed about the situation and urged the union leader to resolve the crisis swiftly, expressing full trust in the workers continuing to serve passengers amid the heavy workload.