"Stuck on the plane for two hours": Heavy congestion at Ben Gurion Airport
Passengers are waiting on the plane for luggage to be loaded, and a flight attendant even claimed to them that it was a wildcat strike: "There are lots of children here, it's insane audacity." Others are waiting for luggage after landing: "Two and a half hours on the floor." Israel Airports Authority: "There is no strike - there is a large cluster of flights."
Numerous reports of unusual congestion at Ben Gurion Airport have emerged, with delays affecting flights that cannot take off because luggage is not being loaded onto planes where passengers are already seated. At the same time, passengers told Ynet that luggage is not being unloaded from some planes that have landed, leaving them waiting "two and a half hours on the floor with small children."
It should be noted that not all flights are experiencing significant delays, although most are taking off late. In Terminal 3, there is no unusual congestion, and it seems the main problem lies in the loading and unloading of luggage. The Israel Airports Authority maintains that this is not a strike by baggage handlers, but rather delays resulting from heavy operational load.
"Passengers are entering crazy lines at the unloading area. It is unclear whether there is really a collapse due to the load, or if there is a strike. A disgrace," one passenger said.
The Israir flight to Salzburg, number 249, for example, was scheduled to take off at 06:30, but Amir, who is on board, says they are still waiting for luggage that has been sitting outside for over two hours.
"The talk here officially is about congestion, but everyone suspects a work-to-rule strike," says Amir. "They also reached out from the plane to the CEO of Israir, who claimed it was out of his hands. In a conversation with the Israel Airports Authority, they blame everyone except themselves. Everything is known in advance, including the number of flights and the load. Therefore, the event is unclear and it is almost certain that it is intentional."
"We have been stuck for two hours already on an Arkia plane, which is still in the parking area without luggage," another passenger stated. "The Arkia flight attendant said that the ground crews for the luggage started a strike. We don't know when we will take off. It is insane audacity, in the peak of August, with planes full of children."
The Israel Airports Authority reiterated that there is no strike, but rather a large cluster of 90 flights within three hours, which directly affects the pace of luggage handling. The congestion, according to the Authority, is being managed.
"The claim of a strike is an absolute lie that does an injustice to our baggage handlers, who are working very hard these days in harsh heat. The baggage handlers are loading luggage continuously for 90,000 passengers around the clock, both on departures and arrivals. We understand the inconvenience, but one must understand that the baggage handlers are working constantly."
