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After hours of chaos, airport to gradually resume operations
Israel National News • • world
Key Points:
- Ben Gurion International Airport closed at 2:00 p.m. due to a surprise employee strike that halted check-in counters and arrivals, but plans to resume normal operations at 3:00 p.m. local time on Thursday.
- The strike involved four ground service companies stopping passenger handling during the airport's busiest period, with nearly 100,000 passengers and 600 flights daily affected.
- The Transportation Workers' Union denied issuing a work stoppage directive, attributing the chaos to severe manpower shortages and inadequate preparation for summer congestion.
- Passengers at the airport reported a lack of communication and official explanations regarding the disruption, causing confusion among travelers and staff.
- Transportation Ministry officials are investigating the incident, with threats of harsh action if a work-to-rule strike is confirmed; meanwhile, key officials including the Transportation Minister are unavailable due to vacation.
