Ben Gurion Airport data shows porter numbers rose since 2019 despite fewer passengers, challenging the union's claims of an unbearable labor shortage.
Since the recent wildcat strike at Ben Gurion Airport, staffing at the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) has become the main flashpoint between management and the workers' union.
The union points to a critical deficit of roughly 500 employees across all departments, arguing that an unreasonable workload ultimately triggered the system's collapse. Union Chairman Pinchas Idan claimed there are simply not enough porters to handle luggage loading and unloading, forcing staff into grueling, consecutive 12-hour shifts in unbearable heat under inhumane conditions. He added that the severe shortage is exacerbated by employees serving on active military reserve duty.
Anyone spending ten minutes outside at midday can sympathize with the grueling physical strain of hauling heavy baggage between aircraft and luggage carts in the summer heat. However, data obtained by Walla reveals a contrasting picture: The number of porters at Ben Gurion Airport has actually grown over the past six years, even as overall passenger traffic declined.
The baseline for comparison is 2019, widely regarded as a peak year for passenger volume at Ben Gurion. In August 2019, 2.807 million passengers passed through the airport, serviced by a workforce of 386 porters. By comparison, August 2026 is projected to see approximately 2.675 million passengers, whereas the porter workforce has expanded to 402. This reflects a net addition of 16 porters alongside a decrease of roughly 130,000 passengers.
Furthermore, a source familiar with the matter told Walla that the union never formally submitted a written request to management regarding a worker shortage.
"A union always wants more workers, and that's fine," says a source familiar with the matter. "But in this case, there is no shortage of porters because there are actually more of them. Besides, operational needs on the ground are no justification for shutting down a country."
The workers' union firmly rejects these assertions, insisting that continuous appeals were submitted to management over two months ago.
However, another source suggests the core issue stems not from total headcount, but from an imbalance between tenured and temporary staff: "In 2019, there were more temporary porters at Ben Gurion Airport. Over the years, the proportion of tenured staff increased while temporary staff declined. Temporary workers experience less burnout, are more flexible, and show higher motivation, whereas tenured staff are less willing to work. The operational model needs an overhaul - something that must be executed in cooperation with the workers' union."
Despite that structural challenge, the likelihood of Idan permitting a shift from tenured positions toward temporary hiring appears virtually non-existent - particularly amid reports that management intends to push for his removal as union chief.
Chairman of the Israel Airports Authority Yiftah Ron-Tal declined to confirm any efforts to oust Idan from leadership. "I am currently focused on managing the crisis and am not dealing with that," he says. "I have established an inquiry team to investigate the incident and draw conclusions."