Over 100,000 Passengers Pass Through Ben Gurion Airport Without Chaos Amid Staffing Concerns

Earlier this month, Israel Airports Authority (IAA) identified five dates in August when Ben Gurion Airport was expected to handle over 100,000 passengers, raising concerns after a major disruption occurred last Thursday. However, on Sunday, August 20, more than 101,000 passengers passed through the airport smoothly, signaling a possible easing of the recent operational crisis.

Despite claims from the airport workers' union about a shortage of 400-500 staff and a legal request to shorten shifts, Sunday’s high passenger volume was managed without adding official staff. The IAA announced that administrative and management employees joined ground shifts, which may have helped alleviate pressure. According to the airport’s congestion metrics, the average delay over the past 24 hours was only 15 minutes, with 78% of landings and 70% of takeoffs occurring on time.

Over the past week, delays remained high due to the previous Thursday’s chaos, averaging 84 minutes for departures and 71 minutes for arrivals. The IAA expects approximately 2.6 million passengers to pass through Ben Gurion during August. While most days see 90,000-95,000 travelers, the five marked dates (August 6, 13, 17, 20, and 27) were forecast to exceed 100,000 passengers. Sunday's smooth operation may offer some reassurance to travelers anticipating the next busy date on August 27.

The airport continues to monitor passenger flow and staffing closely as it prepares for the remaining high-traffic days this month.