Airport authority, workers agree on steps to deal with congestion

The Israel Airports Authority says it has agreed on steps with labor representatives to stabilize operations and ease congestion at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, including having managers chip in on the ground.

The management of the Israel Airports Authority and the workers’ committee, which represents unionized workers at the airport, met this morning and have reached an understanding on a series of immediate measures to restore regular operations at Ben Gurion Airport, the authority says in a statement.

The move comes after a two-hour wildcat strike Thursday sparked extensive delays and flight cancellations at Ben Gurion Airport. Labor figures say the airport is understaffed and unable to handle the number of passengers passing through in peak travel season.

According to the authority, the workers agreed to refrain from industrial action as the airport attempts to regain full operational activity, including baggage handling, security, and ground services. To deal with staffing shortages, managerial staff will join ground services shifts, focusing on baggage handling and queue management, to relieve congestion and deal with backlogged operations.

The sides agreed that no changes will be made to existing plans to recruit new employees ahead of the Jewish Holidays next month, another busy travel period, according to the authority.