Ben Gurion Airport Authority and Workers' Union Reach Agreement to Ease Chaos and Restore Operations

Following recent severe disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport, the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) announced on August 23, 2026, that it has reached an agreement with the workers' union to stabilize operations and reduce passenger congestion. The management and union concluded a joint meeting agreeing to fully resume operational services in baggage handling, security, and ground operations. The plan includes deploying management and headquarters staff to assist on the ground, focusing on baggage systems and queue management to alleviate recent bottlenecks.

The IAA stated that airport activity will return to normal as quickly as possible, alongside ongoing recruitment of new employees in preparation for the upcoming Jewish High Holidays. The authority urged travelers to check flight times with airlines and follow airport guidelines, emphasizing its commitment to ensuring efficient and regular service.

This agreement follows a week of intense mutual accusations between the union and management. Union chairman Pinchas Idan denied intentional work slowdowns, attributing the chaos to a severe manpower shortage of approximately 400 workers. He claimed existing baggage handlers were working 12-hour shifts to exhaustion and accused the authority of dismissing 250 temporary workers and closing service counters to shift blame onto employees.

Conversely, the IAA and the Ministry of Transport accused the union of unjustified sudden strikes that held passengers hostage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Miri Regev criticized the union, with Netanyahu filing a petition to remove Idan from the Likud party. Meanwhile, IAA Council Chairman Yiftach Ron-Tal sought legal advice on canceling Idan’s term extension beyond retirement age.

The crisis peaked in late August when about 100,000 passengers passed through Ben Gurion daily. Reports revealed that a year earlier, during a senior position tender, the possibility of a sudden strike during peak summer was discussed internally, yet the severe disruptions were not prevented.