The war on the Gaza Strip continues to deepen the economic crises of various branches and sectors in the Israeli market. At a time when the tourism sector continues to record financial losses and a decline in the level of incoming tourism to the country, Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv has begun austerity measures, including reducing the salaries of all employees and employees, and expelling hundreds of them. On open leave without pay, and the services of manpower companies associated with it are reduced.
Within the framework of the austerity plan and cuts in the employee system, which was revealed by the “Israel Hayom” newspaper, the Israeli Airports Authority, yesterday, Monday, held talks with employees and informed them of the decision to put about 600 of them on leave without pay for an indefinite period.
According to the plan, the financial allocations for about 1,000 employees and employees will be reduced by about 25%, while the manpower companies at the airport will be reduced by about 50%. The Airports Authority has avoided prejudice to the terms of employment of about 1,000 other employees currently serving in the reserve forces of the Israeli army.
The newspaper explained that the employees who went on leave without pay, or will be dismissed from their jobs, are from various departments of the Airport Authority, including the warehouse handling, sorting, and security departments, and other departments responsible for operating Israel’s main airport.
On normal days, approximately 4,600 employees work at Ben Gurion Airport 24 hours a day, of whom approximately 3,000 will remain in their places following the recent decision.
Austerity plan
The newspaper quoted the Chairman of the Workers Committee at the Airports Authority, Pinhas Idan, as saying, “We were forced to implement an austerity plan and reduce the number of employees at the airport, because there is not enough work for everyone, and work under the plan may take 6 months.”
The Airports Authority commented on the austerity plan for the airport’s employees’ staff, saying, “Despite the sharp decline in aviation activity in Israel as a result of the war, the Airports Authority has so far refrained from laying off employees, but in light of the conditions, and in coordination with the Workers’ Committee, it has been decided to put hundreds of workers on leave.” “Without salary.”
These austerity measures and reductions in the airport’s staff and users came at a time when negotiations are continuing between the Israeli government and many international airlines that have suspended their activities in Israel since the beginning of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation launched by the Palestinian resistance against the occupation on the seventh of last October. ; Due to the risks of war and the cancellation of the international insurance policy for aviation to Israeli airports.
Thousands of flights cancelled
Since the war on Gaza, thousands of foreign airline flights to and from Israel have been cancelled, and most companies have already announced that they will not resume their flights until mid-January 2024, as Ben Gurion Airport operates through Israeli airlines, including “El Al”, which It currently operates very limited flights.
Israeli airlines maintained their work and partial activity at Ben Gurion Airport, following the approval by the Knesset Finance Committee of the request of the Accountant General of the Israeli Ministry of Finance, Yehli Rotenberg, to provide a guarantee framework in the amount of $6 billion to provide insurance against war risks for Israeli airlines, according to what the newspaper reported. Economic Calculist.
In addition to the partial activity of Israeli companies, the Airports Authority departments are working in coordination with the Israeli government to return international airlines to Israel as soon as possible, while negotiations continue regarding government guarantees to provide insurance against war risks.
Extension of flight suspension
The Lufthansa Group, which also includes the Swiss and Austrian companies, announced its intention to partially return to flights to Israel on January 8, and it is expected that more international companies will follow suit, provided that the Israeli government provides guarantees and insurance against risks. The war, according to the economic newspaper “De Marker”, reported.
These three companies from the Lufthansa group will return to operating about 20 weekly flights to Israel, that is, only about 30% of the regular flight schedule of these companies, which used to arrive in Israel before the war on Gaza.
On the other hand, the two American airlines, American Airlines and Delta, announced that due to the security situation in Israel, they will extend the cancellation of flights and will not return to operating in Israel until the end of next March. They were also joined by the Spanish company Air Europa, which announced the postponement of its return to Israel to the beginning of next February.
The newspaper estimated that the expected return of the Lufthansa group to partially operating flights to and from Israel is mainly due to political pressure exerted on it by the German government, which supports Israel in the war on Gaza.
War routine
According to data from the Israeli Airports Authority, approximately 23,000 passengers were registered daily on the Feast of Lights – Hanukkah, which fell in the first week of this December, and yesterday, Monday, approximately 22,000 passengers passed through the airport.
But these numbers are still low for a normal period, and for comparison: in December/In December of last year, an average of 62,000 passengers passed through Ben Gurion Airport daily, noting that during the war on Gaza, only the three main Israeli airlines operated in Israel. They are: “Al Al”, “Israel” and “Arkia”, which operate flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport.
The newspaper attributed the slight increase in the number of passengers and flights to the Hanukkah holiday, and in preparation for Christmas and New Year celebrations on December 31.
In addition, the newspaper said, “Israel has already entered the routine of war, and some reserve soldiers have been discharged. There is a feeling among some Israelis that the war is being managed and can be contained, and it is possible to travel outside the country to relieve the pressures of war.”