Heading for summer congestion at Ben Gurion Airport? Union chairman warns: 'I don't know how we will get through August'
Pinchas Idan has warned of severe congestion expected at the airport ahead of the peak summer season due to a staff shortage. He claims the facility is missing about 400 employees, while recruitment remains difficult. The Israel Airports Authority management has denied these claims, which follow recent external disruptions at the airport.
The chairman of the Israel Airports Authority workers' union has warned of a shortage of hundreds of employees at Ben Gurion Airport. Alongside this, difficulties in recruiting new workers may lead to severe congestion at the peak of the summer season. The Israel Airports Authority management has denied these remarks. Just in the last two days, Ben Gurion Airport has already experienced severe disruptions due to external malfunctions.
Pinchas Idan, chairman of the Israel Airports Authority workers' union, stated today (Tuesday) that there is a shortage of staff at Ben Gurion Airport and significant difficulty in recruiting, warning of expected severe congestion ahead of the peak summer season.
'We are missing about 400 employees, we are unable to recruit. There will likely be queues in the coming period — I don't know how we will get through the month of August,' said Idan.
The Israel Airports Authority management denied the words of the union chairman.
Idan's remarks regarding the staff shortage come after Ben Gurion Airport experienced additional disruptions in recent days for other reasons. The Israel Airports Authority updated yesterday that delays are expected for incoming and outgoing flights due to a malfunction in the air traffic management system in Europe.
Furthermore, two days ago, significant delays were recorded for flights from Israel to Europe and back following a radar malfunction in Greek airspace. The issue affected almost every flight that needed to cross Greek airspace on its way to or from Israel. In a notice provided to passengers, it was stated that heavy delays were expected following the malfunction.
Thus, in addition to the unexpected disruptions that flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport already experience from time to time, the union chairman is now warning of an internal problem that may be much more severe and persistent.
