A Deepening Crisis

Things are tough in Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip has caused major economic problems for various sectors in the Israeli market. With a decline in tourism and financial losses, the airport has been forced to take drastic measures. This includes reducing salaries, putting hundreds of employees on unpaid leave, and cutting back on manpower companies associated with the airport.

Austerity Measures

The Israeli Airports Authority recently announced an austerity plan that will affect around 600 employees. These employees will be put on unpaid leave indefinitely. Additionally, the financial allocations for about 1,000 other employees will be reduced by 25%. The manpower companies at the airport will also face a 50% reduction. However, the terms of employment for around 1,000 employees currently serving in the Israeli army reserve forces will not be affected.

Departments Affected

The employees who will be put on unpaid leave or lose their jobs come from various departments at the Airport Authority. This includes warehouse handling, sorting, security, and other departments responsible for operating the airport.

Impact on Staff

On a normal day, Ben Gurion Airport has around 4,600 employees working 24 hours a day. Following the recent decision, approximately 3,000 employees will remain in their positions. The Chairman of the Workers Committee at the Airports Authority, Pinhas Idan, explained that the austerity plan is necessary because there is not enough work for everyone. The plan may last for about six months.

Reasons Behind the Measures

The Airports Authority stated that despite the decline in aviation activity due to the war, they had initially refrained from laying off employees. However, given the current conditions, they had to make the difficult decision to put hundreds of workers on unpaid leave. This decision was made in coordination with the Workers' Committee.

Flight Cancellations and Partial Activity

Since the war on Gaza began, thousands of foreign airline flights to and from Israel have been canceled. Most airlines have announced that they will not resume their flights until mid-January 2024. Israeli airlines, such as "El Al," have continued to operate limited flights. The Israeli government provided a guarantee framework of $6 billion to provide insurance against war risks for Israeli airlines.

Efforts to Resume International Flights

The Airports Authority is working with the Israeli government to bring back international airlines as soon as possible. Negotiations are ongoing regarding government guarantees to provide insurance against war risks. The Lufthansa Group, which includes Swiss and Austrian companies, plans to partially resume flights to Israel on January 8. Other international companies are expected to follow suit if the Israeli government provides guarantees and insurance against war risks.

Extended Flight Suspension

American Airlines, Delta, and Air Europa have announced that they will not resume operating in Israel until the end of March or the beginning of February. The newspaper estimates that the Lufthansa group's decision to partially resume flights is due to political pressure from the German government, which supports Israel in the war on Gaza.

War's Impact on Travel

During the war, the number of passengers passing through Ben Gurion Airport has significantly decreased. On the Feast of Lights - Hanukkah, approximately 23,000 passengers were registered daily. However, this is still much lower compared to the average of 62,000 passengers per day in December of the previous year. Despite the slight increase in passengers during the holiday season, the war has become a routine for Israelis. Some reserve soldiers have been discharged, and there is a feeling that the situation can be managed, leading some to travel outside the country to relieve the pressures of war.

Source: Agencies