Ben Gurion Airport was thrown into chaos on Thursday after wildcat labor strike shut down both check-ins and arrivals for more than an hour on what had been shaping up to be the busiest travel day of the year.
Staff left check-in counters unmanned and incoming flights were halted, causing massive delays after the Israel Airports Authority said the wildcat strike was called over workers’ complaints of insufficient personnel to handle the influx of passengers during the August vacation rush.
But the country’s umbrella labor union, the Histadrut, denied calling a strike and blamed the turmoil on persistent staffing shortages.
Employees had fully returned by 4 p.m., the airport said, though delays and crowding in the main terminal were expected to continue for some time.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu weighed in on the dramatic developments, issuing a statement Thursday afternoon that “Ben Gurion Airport will continue to be open and operate as usual. Anyone who stands in the way will be sent home.”
