Summer travel congestion at Ben Gurion Airport has reached extraordinary levels, with fewer than one in 10 flights departing on time or within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure during the past week.

According to a report by Hofit Cohen Olai in Calcalist, Ben Gurion Airport recorded 31% more departures last week than the weekly average over the previous three months. At the same time, delays surged by 24%.

A total of 1,847 flights departed from Ben Gurion Airport during the week, but just 9.8% took off on schedule or no more than 15 minutes late. The average delay at Terminal 3 reached 69 minutes, while passengers departing from Terminal 1 faced an average delay of 66 minutes.

The congestion extended well beyond the runways. Travelers reported lengthy lines at check-in counters and security checkpoints, while some passengers on Friday said they waited as long as two and a half hours for their luggage.

Red Wings posted the worst average performance among the airlines examined. Although the carrier operated only 17 flights, its average delay was a staggering 207 minutes.

Blue Bird Airways followed with an average delay of 128 minutes across 189 departures, while TUS recorded an average delay of 114 minutes on its 69 flights.

At the other end of the rankings, Flydubai posted the shortest average delay at 22 minutes. Azerbaijan Airlines averaged 28 minutes, while Emirates recorded an average delay of 29 minutes.

Significant differences were also seen among Israel’s airlines. El Al operated 598 flights and recorded an average delay of 42 minutes. Israir’s 282 flights were delayed by an average of 59 minutes, while Arkia posted an average delay of 100 minutes across 284 departures.

Certain destinations proved particularly vulnerable to disruptions. Flights to Heraklion were delayed by an average of 104 minutes, while Mykonos-bound flights averaged 103 minutes late and Barcelona flights were delayed by an average of 101 minutes.

The Israel Airports Authority attributed some of the problems to heavy congestion in European airspace, particularly over Greece, as well as disruptions involving assigned takeoff and landing windows. Calcalist also reported that the activity of American refueling aircraft in the region has affected available flight slots.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the current congestion is that Ben Gurion Airport is operating with dramatically fewer airlines than during a typical summer. Only 47 carriers are currently serving the airport, compared with approximately 100 during a normal summer season.

Despite that reduced number, the airport has struggled to handle the summer traffic. Infrastructure limitations, insufficient security-screening positions, shortages of aircraft parking spaces and staffing constraints have all contributed to the difficulties.

Israel’s Transportation Ministry told Calcalist that the delays reflect a combination of normal summer travel congestion, the complicated security situation and substantial pressure on European airspace.

The ministry said efforts are being made to maintain continuous operations at Ben Gurion Airport while minimizing flight cancellations as much as possible.

{Matzav.com}