Ben-Gurion Airport bursting at the seams – what passengers are complaining about

Ben-Gurion Airport faced a collapse on Monday, August 17, with a queue of 90 delayed flights accumulating within three hours. Only 12.3% of planes depart on time, with peak waiting times reaching 94 minutes at 2:00 PM. Causes include traffic overload, restrictions over Greece, and American refueling aircraft. An incident on a Blue Bird flight to Crete saw a 1.5-hour delay and broken air conditioning. Experts again call for a second airport.

Ben-Gurion Airport faced a transportation collapse. On Monday, August 17, a queue of 90 delayed flights accumulated over a three-hour period. Statistics show that only 12.3% of planes depart on time or with a minimal delay of up to 15 minutes. In the morning, waiting times are 38–45 minutes, growing to 78 minutes by noon, with a peak at 2:00 PM averaging 94 minutes. In the evening at 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, delays reach 80 and 85 minutes respectively. Airport management attributes the crisis to air traffic overload, restrictions in European skies, particularly over Greece, and the presence of American aerial refueling aircraft. A shortage of parking stands slows aircraft servicing and baggage unloading. The summer season and extreme heat worsen the situation. Particular resonance was caused by an incident on a Blue Bird flight from Tel Aviv to Crete: departure was delayed by an hour and a half after boarding, air conditioning barely worked in the cabin, passengers felt unwell, and tension eased only after a spontaneous protest. Experts again spoke of the need to build a second international airport, but disputes over its location continue.