Disruptions at Ben-Gurion Airport continue with missing baggage, canceled flights

Chaos continued at Ben-Gurion Airport on Friday, with thousands of passengers stranded and their luggage missing following a surprise strike the previous day. The Histadrut labor federation and the Airport Authority Workers' Union have both denied responsibility for initiating the work stoppage.

Despite an announcement from the Israel Airports Authority that employees would return to full operations after a meeting, thousands of suitcases remained at the airport. These bags either failed to be loaded onto departing flights or were not transferred to passengers who had already arrived. Many Israelis embarking on costly vacations found themselves without their clothes and personal belongings.

Flight disruptions persisted throughout Friday. Several El Al flights landed one to two hours late due to the previous day's departure delays. In one instance, flight LY008 from New York to Ben-Gurion was canceled after passengers had boarded, as the airline determined it would land after Shabbat began. Passengers were accommodated in hotels at El Al's expense.

Arkia airline acknowledged significant delays affecting both departures from and arrivals to Ben-Gurion Airport. The airline warned that some flights might not take off or land before Shabbat. Passengers unwilling to fly due to schedule changes were offered flight vouchers for future use.

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following the Ben-Gurion Airport workers’ strike, significant delays have occurred in the flight schedule, both on flights departing from Israel and on flights making their way to Ben-Gurion Airport. As a result, there may be flights that will not manage to take off or land before the start of Shabbat.