Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport halts operations amid labor dispute

The Israel Airports Authority and air-traffic authorities informed air carriers in advance of the airport’s impending closure, according to Israel’s Ynet news portal.

Several flights en route to Tel Aviv were forced to turn around and return to their countries of origin as operations at the airport were scaled down due to the closure of check-in counters.

Employees of four ground-services companies that operate at the airport have also reportedly stopped working.

The disruptions come during one of the busiest periods of the year, when the airport handles approximately 100,000 passengers – and around 600 flights – per day.

According to the Israel Airports Authority, the decision to halt work – in line with instructions from a workers’ committee – has impacted the airport’s operations and affected passenger services.

The Airports Authority has called on employees to immediately end the work stoppage with a view to restoring operations and services.

If the disruptions continue, the authority warned, it would seek intervention by judicial authorities.

Israeli Transportation Ministry officials have warned that airport employees could be dismissed if the work stoppage was found to be part of a deliberate slowdown, according to Ynet.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev has instructed his ministry’s director-general, Moshe Ben Zaken, to immediately address the situation, Ynet reported.