Major delays reported at Ben Gurion Airport; officials say US refuelers’ presence a factor

Passengers at Ben Gurion Airport reported hours-long delays for both arriving and departing flights on Friday. Reports indicated that some flights were grounded after boarding due to luggage loading issues, while arriving passengers faced long waits at baggage claim. The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) stated that it handled 90 flights within a three-hour window. The IAA attributed the operational strain to a combination of high summer traffic, congestion over Greek airspace, and the presence of US refueling tankers stationed at the airport due to the conflict with Iran. The authority noted that the tankers reduce available parking space and increase pressure on ground handling systems, while denying reports of staff shortages. Transportation Minister Miri Regev had previously vowed to limit the number of US tankers at the airport to 20, though it remains unclear if this cap is currently being enforced.