Ben-Gurion Airport workers halt flights

A surprise strike by Ben-Gurion Airport workers on Thursday, August 20, 2026, halted all check-in counters and grounded flights from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., affecting approximately 100,000 travelers. The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) attributed the disruptions to union-directed actions, citing operational difficulties, challenges with aircraft loading/unloading, and a shortage of parking stands, exacerbated by the presence of over 20 American refuelers. Labor leader Pinchas Idan stated, "They give us such hard labor; management has no shame - they are torturing the employees of Ben-Gurion." Transportation Minister Miri Regev called it a "thug-like, illegal strike" and instructed the IAA to petition the Labor Court, threatening that "Whoever made the decision to make tens of thousands of Israeli citizens hostage will pay a heavy price." Ministry officials are investigating if workers employed an "Italian" strike (work-to-rule) strategy, vowing severe action if confirmed.