Ben-Gurion Airport faces chaos as baggage handling struggles cause mass delays

Ben-Gurion Airport faced significant operational disruptions on Friday morning, with widespread congestion and dozens of flight delays stemming from issues with baggage handling. Passengers experienced lengthy waits, and in some instances, were already seated on aircraft while their luggage had yet to be loaded.

The situation impacted flights scheduled for departure, including an Israir flight to Salzburg which was delayed. Passengers arriving at the airport also reported extended waits to retrieve their belongings. The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) confirmed that the delays were not due to industrial action.

According to the IAA, the congestion arose from an unusually high concentration of approximately 90 flights arriving or departing within a roughly three-hour window. This surge overwhelmed the baggage handling system, affecting both the loading of outgoing luggage and the unloading of arriving bags. The authority stated that measures were being implemented to address the backlog and expedite the restoration of normal operations.