Airport Authority and Workers' Union Clash Over Responsibility for Ben Gurion Airport Disruptions

Two days after severe disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport caused long delays for passengers both in Israel and abroad, the dispute over responsibility continues. Pinchas Idan, chairman of the Airport Authority workers' union, denies declaring a strike and attributes the chaos to severe staff shortages and worker fatigue. He warns that without urgent solutions to the manpower crisis, the airport may struggle to handle the upcoming end-of-August and holiday travel surges.

The Airport Authority disputes Idan's claims, stating that the numbers he presents about staff shortages vary with each statement and accusing the union of causing unnecessary harm to travelers. They describe the situation as workers refusing to work beyond their 12-hour shifts or take overtime due to physical strain, rather than an official strike. The Authority has launched an investigation to determine the causes and assign responsibility for the operational failures.

Idan detailed that as of August 22, the airport is short between 400 and 500 employees across all divisions, with over 100 on reserve duty and many others absent due to illness or injury. He describes the shortage as acute and directly impacting service quality, emphasizing that workers are operating under extreme conditions with monthly hours between 220 and 260. Despite repeated warnings from the union, the Authority claims the union's shifting figures are attempts to justify the disruption after the fact.

Ben Gurion Airport has resumed normal operations, but the core question remains whether the disruption was due to a declared strike, workers refusing overtime amid exhaustion, or chronic understaffing and inadequate preparation for peak travel periods. The ongoing investigation is expected to clarify these issues.