After Ben-Gurion Airport Chaos, New Steps Aim to Prevent the Next Crisis

The Israel Airports Authority management and workers’ committee reached an understanding this morning (Sunday) on a series of measures intended to stabilize operations at Ben-Gurion Airport, reduce the congestion that has built up, and return airport services to normal.

Under the agreement between the sides, baggage, security, and ground services will return to full, regular operations without labor actions. Alongside the return to routine operations, it was decided to reinforce on-the-ground work with headquarters and management employees, who will join shifts and focus, among other things, on the baggage system and managing lines. The goal is to help reduce the congestion as quickly as possible.

At the same time as these immediate steps, the authority is continuing its preparations for the Tishrei holiday period. As part of this, the hiring of new employees is continuing as planned, as part of the early preparations for a period when increased activity is expected at the airport.

The Israel Airports Authority management and workers’ committee said they are "working to restore operations to normal as quickly as possible." At the same time, they urged passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport: "We ask the traveling public to check flight times with the airlines and arrive at the airport in accordance with the guidelines."

The understanding comes after the chairman of the Israel Airports Authority Workers’ Committee, Pinchas Idan, rejected claims that the committee was responsible for the shutdown and argued that "the airport director is the one who closed Ben-Gurion Airport." When asked whether the situation could continue next week, he replied: "I’m not promising anything."

Idan also addressed claims that the measures were taken because of his position within the workers’ committee: "My situation in the committee is not complicated; temporary workers vote just like veteran workers."

According to him, the events stemmed from a heavy burden on the porter staff: "What happened was that a team of porters who started at 3 in the morning had to work until 3:00 p.m. They asked to go home because they felt they were collapsing from exhaustion. I repeat: We did not shut down the airport; everything is documented, and everything was filmed."

Now, following the agreement between management and the committee, the immediate effort is focused on returning all services to regular operations and reinforcing the systems where congestion developed, while the authority simultaneously continues hiring additional personnel ahead of the Tishrei holidays.