Overload at Ben-Gurion: Dozens of flights delayed due to restrictions over Greece

Dozens of flights at Ben-Gurion Airport are delayed due to air traffic restrictions over Greece. According to the airport authority, as of August 12, 186 of 293 departing flights were delayed by more than 15 minutes. The most severe delays are at Arkia: a flight to Rhodes was delayed by 7.5 hours. Additional strain is caused by the eruption of Mount Etna, which has halted operations at Catania Airport.

On August 12, 2026, Ben-Gurion Airport experienced mass flight delays due to air traffic restrictions over Greece. Greek aviation authorities reduced the number of permitted flights, leading to a cascade of delays. According to the Israel Airports Authority, since the start of the day, 186 of 293 departing flights were delayed by more than 15 minutes, and among arrivals, 107 of 294. The most severe delays are at Arkia: a flight to Rhodes was delayed by 7.5 hours, and to Vienna by more than 5 hours. Arriving flights from Batumi and Rhodes were also delayed by more than 6 hours. Additional strain is caused by the eruption of Mount Etna in Sicily, which has halted operations at Catania Airport, with about 190 flights diverted to Palermo. This has increased demand for transport and caused further delays. The airport authority recommends passengers check flight times with their airlines.