After the chaos at Ben Gurion Airport: understandings reached to prevent disruptions during the holidays

The Israel Airports Authority management, the workers' committee, and the Histadrut published a joint statement this afternoon (Tuesday), according to which understandings were reached on a "joint path" that will prevent another strike during the expected congestion at Ben Gurion Airport during the holidays.

According to the announcement, "At the end of a joint meeting held by the Histadrut chairman, the council chairman, and the CEO of the Israel Airports Authority, representatives of the workers' committee, and the Wage Commissioner at the Ministry of Finance, the parties agreed, out of public responsibility, partnership, and commitment to the continued normal and continuous operation of the Israel Airports Authority. All parties appreciate the efforts of the employees to work during the war during sirens and missiles. Ahead of the Tishrei holiday period and the expected congestion at Ben Gurion Airport, the Authority's management, the employees, and the Histadrut will act jointly and responsibly to ensure the functional and operational continuity of the airport and the best service for the traveling public. At the same time, the Authority will work to accelerate the recruitment of the necessary personnel in accordance with the Authority's planned recruitment program."

More than 3 million passengers are expected to pass through the Israel Airports Authority facilities during September and the Tishrei holidays, of which about 2.5 million will pass through Ben Gurion Airport. The Israel Airports Authority is reinforcing personnel and preparing specifically for four peak days, which according to the forecast will be September 10, 17, 22, and 25, and on each of them about 100,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport on about 600 flights. The heaviest load is expected as early as September 10, ahead of the eve of Rosh Hashanah, when more than 100,000 passengers are expected to pass through Ben Gurion Airport on international flights.

The preparation for the holidays comes after an especially stormy month of August at Ben Gurion Airport, during which about 2.65 million passengers passed through. The negative record was recorded on August 20, when against the background of a crisis between the Israel Airports Authority management and the workers' committee, landings were stopped for about an hour, flights were delayed and canceled, and many passengers were forced to take off without their luggage. The Israel Airports Authority then blamed the workers' committee for a deliberate strike, while the committee chairman, Pinhas Idan, denied it and claimed that the disruptions were caused by a persistent shortage of personnel and heavy load on the employees. Following the crisis, the parties reached agreements that included, among other things, hiring employees and reinforcing activity.

Outside of Ben Gurion Airport, active traffic is also expected. About 81,000 passengers are expected to pass through Ramon Airport, about 60,000 through Haifa Airport, and about half a million passengers are expected to pass through the land border crossings to Jordan and Sinai during September and the holidays. Of these, about 190,000 are expected to pass through the Rabin crossing in the Arava, about 153,000 through the Allenby crossing, about 100,000 through the Begin crossing, and about 55,000 through the Jordan River crossing.

The Israel Airports Authority recommends that passengers check in advance which terminal the flight departs from, perform check-in from home, and print luggage tags at the self-service stations. Passengers with hand luggage only who have checked in in advance can use the fast track in sector W in terminals 1 and 3.