Ben Gurion Airport has returned to normal operations following last week’s labor disruption, but serious concerns remain over whether staffing shortages could trigger renewed problems as the busy Rosh Hashanah travel period approaches.

The Israel Airports Authority said it reached an agreement with the workers’ union on a series of steps aimed at reducing congestion and restoring full operations. The measures include recruiting and training additional employees, while managers and headquarters staff are being assigned to frontline shifts, particularly in baggage handling and queue management.

Following a joint meeting with the union, the authority said baggage, security and ground services had returned to full operation. Passengers were urged to check flight times with their airlines and arrive at the airport according to instructions.

The measures come after severe disruption Thursday, when Ben Gurion was closed to incoming flights for approximately an hour amid a dispute over the workload of baggage handlers. The shutdown caused significant delays on one of the summer’s busiest travel days, forcing airlines to cancel or delay flights and leaving many passengers unable to depart without their luggage.

Airport management accused the workers’ committee of deliberately staging a strike. Union chairman Pinchas Idan denied the allegation, saying the disruption resulted from a longstanding labor shortage and excessive pressure on employees.

The union says the airport is short between 400 and 500 workers across its divisions and has warned that without immediate action, adequate service may become impossible during the holiday rush. More than 100 employees are currently serving in the military reserves, according to the union, while dozens of others are absent because of long-term illnesses, injuries or workplace accidents.

The shortages are affecting a broad range of airport operations, including ground handling, firefighting, security, baggage sorting and transportation. The union also says some employees responsible for routine airport operations are working between 220 and 260 hours per month, with shifts extended from eight hours to 12 because of the staffing pressure.

“We have repeatedly warned about this. These are the figures,” the union said. “The issue requires deep, immediate and urgent treatment. Otherwise, it will not be possible to provide passengers with the service they deserve.”

The Airports Authority disputed the union’s figures, saying the numbers cited by Idan had changed between statements. It also accused the workers’ committee of attempting to use the staffing claims to justify the disruption after the fact.

While operations have resumed, the underlying labor dispute remains unresolved. With Rosh Hashanah less than three weeks away and passenger traffic expected to increase ahead of the Jewish holidays, the airport now faces a significant test of whether the new measures will be enough to prevent another round of disruptions.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)