Israel Airport Authority Ramps Up Staffing Ahead of Holiday Travel Surge

Israel Airports Authority announced on Tuesday it is increasing staffing levels to handle an expected surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming Jewish autumn holidays. Over three million passengers are anticipated to travel through the country's airports and land border crossings in September.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after an unscheduled strike at Ben Gurion Airport, which paralyzed operations for two hours, causing significant flight delays and cancellations. This incident, occurring during one of the year's busiest periods, raised concerns about the airport's readiness for the even higher passenger volume expected during the holidays.

This year, Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of September 11, marking the start of a holiday period traditionally associated with a sharp increase in tourism. Ben Gurion Airport is expected to handle the bulk of this traffic, with approximately 2.5 million passengers projected for September. Ramon Airport in the south will accommodate around 81,000 travelers, and Haifa Airport will see about 60,000.

Additionally, an estimated 500,000 people are expected to cross Israel's land borders with Jordan and Egypt. "To service the expected passenger flow, the Israel Airports Authority has increased its staff at Ben Gurion Airport and border crossings," the Authority stated. "Furthermore, administrative staff presence will be enhanced in the terminals during the Jewish holidays."

Specific dates expected to be particularly busy are September 10, 17, 22, and 25, when Ben Gurion Airport anticipates handling around 100,000 passengers daily, with approximately 600 flights per day.

The recent labor dispute, stemming from a disagreement between the Civil Aviation Authority and the workers' union over staffing shortages, remains fresh in memory. The airport is now preparing to demonstrate its capacity to manage the holiday rush without repeating the August disruptions. Popular destinations for Israelis during this period are expected to include Greece, Cyprus, the USA, Italy, and the UAE.