Massive Queues and Staff Shortages Cause Heavy Delays at Ben Gurion Airport
Massive queues formed at Ben Gurion Airport's foreign passport control due to staff shortages and slow computers, sparking fresh tensions between authorities and the Histadrut.
Severe congestion, staff shortages, and sluggish computers caused massive queues at foreign passport control stations upon entry to Israel at Ben Gurion Airport. Despite low overall passenger traffic and scarce tourism at present, arriving visitors faced unusual delays and a lengthy wait.
Last month, a sudden strike by airport employees shut down check-in counters and caused widespread flight disruptions. Operations gradually resumed after understandings were reached, with initial Ministry of Finance estimates placing the damage at approximately 30 million shekels. The Israel Airports Authority labeled the move extreme and intolerable.
Conversely, the Histadrut labor federation rejected claims of a wildcat strike, attributing the crisis to severe staffing shortages and inadequate preparation by authorities. Representatives stated that employees work around the clock under heavy pressure and called for systemic solutions rather than placing blame on the workforce.
