Passengers at Ben Gurion Airport could face renewed delays as Israel enters the peak Yom Tov travel season, with ground-crew shortages reportedly once again placing pressure on airport operations just weeks after a wildcat strike caused major disruptions, Channel 12 reports.

Airport workers told Channel 12 that temporary personnel reinforcements brought in following the August labor disruption have ended, leaving a renewed shortage among workers responsible for loading and unloading baggage.

The timing is particularly sensitive, with passenger traffic expected to surge as the Yomim Tovim approach and large numbers of Israelis travel abroad.

The Israel Airports Authority strongly rejected claims that Ben Gurion is heading toward another operational crisis, insisting that the airport is functioning normally and accusing those spreading such warnings of presenting false information.

According to the IAA, staffing was planned in advance for the peak travel period and personnel levels are being continuously reinforced based on projected passenger volume and operational requirements.

Airport management and the workers’ union reached an agreement last week aimed at maintaining uninterrupted operations during the Yom Tov travel rush.

That agreement followed last month’s wildcat strike over staffing shortages, which produced delays and cancellations on what was Ben Gurion Airport’s busiest travel day of the year and raised questions over whether the airport was adequately prepared for the much larger holiday rush.

Despite the IAA’s assurances, workers quoted in the report maintain that the shortage of ground personnel is again being felt, particularly among baggage crews.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)