Ben Gurion Strike Fallout Delays Flights and Baggage Into Friday Morning

Disruptions from Thursday’s Israel Airports Authority employee action continued into Friday morning at Ben Gurion Airport, after operations resumed gradually after 15:00. Flights departed after significant delays, and some left passengers’ luggage behind. Arriving travelers waited more than 90 minutes for baggage, while passengers from several overnight flights left the terminal without it. The Finance Ministry estimated the strike cost about NIS 30 million in lost fees, canceled-flight effects, lost output and delayed air cargo. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu separately ordered Likud proceedings to expel airport workers’ committee chairman Pinchas Idan over the strike.