Israel Airports Authority and Workers' Union Agree on Immediate Steps to Restore Ben Gurion Airport Operations

The Israel Airports Authority management announced on Sunday that it reached an agreement with the workers' union to implement immediate measures aimed at reducing congestion and restoring regular operations at Ben Gurion Airport. The agreement includes the full resumption of baggage handling, security, and ground services without any work stoppages. Additionally, management and headquarters staff will join frontline shifts, focusing on baggage handling and queue management to quickly alleviate the current overload.

The authority is also continuing to onboard new employees as part of early preparations for the upcoming Jewish High Holidays. Both the management and the union emphasized their commitment to returning airport operations to normal as swiftly as possible. They urged passengers to check flight times with airlines and follow official guidelines when arriving at the airport.

Pinehas Idan, chairman of the Israel Airports Authority workers' union, told Kan News that the airport manager was responsible for the closure of Ben Gurion Airport. When asked if disruptions would continue into the following week, he declined to make any promises. Idan explained that the strike was triggered when baggage handlers who started work at 3 a.m. requested to leave early due to exhaustion after working until 3 p.m. He denied that the union had shut down the airport, stating that all events were documented and recorded.

The strike has caused significant delays, financial losses estimated at 30 million shekels, and widespread passenger frustration. The ongoing situation has raised questions about accountability for the chaos at Ben Gurion Airport and what further disruptions might occur.