Ben-Gurion Airport flights resume after workers strike halts Israeli air journey

A shock workers strike at Ben-Gurion Airport concluded at 3:00 p.m. after employees halted all check-in counters an hour earlier on Thursday, declaring a “crisis” attributable to operational difficulties, challenges loading and unloading plane, and a scarcity of parking stands.

Flights have been grounded from 2:00 p.m after the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) stated the union-directed work disruptions affected airport operations and companies to the touring public.

Approximately 100,000 vacationers have been anticipated to move by way of Ben-Gurion Airport at present, as greater than 20 American refuelers occupy parking stands adjoining to Terminals 3 and 1.

This is lengthening the transport instances of baggage to and from plane, in addition to the shuttling of passengers to and from planes not related to jet bridges.

The Public Transport Authority confirmed its administration has issued a requirement to staff to “immediately cease any action that harms regular work and to restore operations to full routine. The Authority views with utmost severity any deliberate action liable to harm the traveling public and the proper functioning of Ben-Gurion Airport, especially during summer peak loads and high operational volumes.”

Pinchas Idan, chief of the strike, stated, “They give us such hard labor; management has no shame – they are torturing the employees of Ben-Gurion.”

Employees have reportedly resorted to an “Italian” strike, often known as a “work-to-rule” or “slowdown” labor protest technique, by which staff technically adjust to their duties by following official guidelines and laws whereas grinding work to a halt. 

This tactic is commonly utilized by sectors which can be legally restricted from placing, equivalent to customs brokers, air site visitors controllers, baggage handlers, and the like.

Senior sources within the Transportation Ministry emphasize that if it seems to be an Italian strike on the peak of the journey season, “heads will roll and workers will go home.”

The director-general of the Transportation Ministry stated, “We are investigating the incident; we are in a peak period with refuelers present, but if the investigation reveals an Italian strike, we will act with a very heavy hand against whoever is behind this.”

Udi Etzion contributed to this report.