Israel: Israel's Ben Gurion Airport began gradually resuming takeoffs and landings at 3 pm local time (1200GMT) Thursday, following a halt in operations due to a labor dispute, Israeli media reported. The airport experienced an hour-long pause that affected its routine schedule, creating challenges for passengers and airlines alike.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Israel Airports Authority announced the gradual restoration of operations, implementing a reorganized flight schedule. Passengers were advised to stay in contact with their respective airlines to confirm any schedule changes or updates. The temporary closure resulted in several flights en route to Tel Aviv having to turn back to their countries of origin due to the shut down of check-in counters.

The labor dispute involved employees from four ground-services companies operating at the airport, leading to the cessation of work and the subsequent disruption of services. The timing of the dispute coincided with one of the airport's busiest periods, with the facility handling approximately 100,000 passengers and around 600 flights daily.

According to the Israel Airports Authority, the halt in operations was directed by a workers' committee, significantly impacting passenger services. The Airports Authority urged employees to resume work immediately to restore normal operations and services. They also warned of seeking judicial intervention if the disruptions continued.

Israeli Transportation Ministry officials cautioned that employees could face dismissal if the work stoppage was determined to be a deliberate slowdown. Transportation Minister Miri Regev ordered the ministry's director-general, Moshe Ben Zaken, to take immediate action to resolve the situation.