Airport Authority Faces Severe Staff Shortages Ahead of Holiday Travel Surge

Pnechas Idan, chairman of the Airport Authority Workers' Union, warned of critical staff shortages at Israel Airports Authority (IAA) ahead of the busy holiday season. Following chaotic scenes at Ben Gurion Airport last Thursday, which included a temporary closure due to understaffed check-in counters, Idan is expected to approach the labor court to address the crisis. The union released a detailed report highlighting a shortage of 400 to 500 employees across all divisions, including operations, firefighting, security, sorting, and baggage handling. Additionally, over 100 employees are currently on reserve duty, with many others absent due to long-term illness or workplace injuries.

The union attributes the shortage to management failures and recruitment difficulties, emphasizing that the current situation is the result of prolonged neglect. Workers are reportedly working between 220 to 260 hours per month under strenuous conditions, often extending shifts to 12 hours due to the lack of personnel. Idan denied claims that the recent disruptions were a planned strike, insisting the issues stem from severe understaffing and ignored warnings. He criticized management for dismissing earlier alerts about the shortage, noting that staff cannot sustain such extreme workloads without risking health.

The airport authority blamed the union for deliberate work disruptions, but Idan refuted these accusations, calling for immediate and deep intervention to prevent further service failures. The union has decided to limit shifts to eight hours to reduce worker exhaustion. The situation remains tense as the holiday travel period approaches, with significant concerns about the airport's ability to provide adequate passenger service without urgent staffing solutions.