Ben-Gurion Airport flights resume after staff strike halts Israeli air travel

Key Points:

• A surprise strike at Ben-Gurion Airport halted all check-in counters for an hour on Thursday, ending at 3:00 p.m., due to operational challenges including aircraft loading issues and parking shortages.
• The strike caused most flights to depart without luggage, with operations grounded from 2:00 p.m., affecting approximately 100,000 travelers amid congestion from over 20 American refueling aircraft occupying parking stands.
• The Public Transport Authority demanded an immediate end to disruptive actions, emphasizing the severity of harm to travelers and airport operations during the busy summer season.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revoked the Likud membership of Airports Authority union chairman Pinchas Idan, who led the strike originally planned to disrupt a government official’s flight to Morocco.
• The Finance Ministry estimated the strike caused NIS 25-30 million in damages, and authorities are investigating whether the strike was an “Italian” work-to-rule slowdown, warning of severe consequences if confirmed.