Etihad Flights Disrupted as Ben Gurion Airport Strike Causes Major Travel Chaos
TEL AVIV, August 21, 2026 — Etihad Airways was forced to cancel and restrict flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi after an unexpected workers’ strike disrupted operations at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport during one of the busiest travel days of the summer.
Etihad cancelled flight EY608 from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, while EY594 operated with a limited number of passengers. The airline also reported delays affecting EY597 from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv and EY598 from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi.
The disruption began on August 20 when airport workers halted passenger-processing activities, forcing the closure of check-in counters and severely affecting baggage handling. Operations were suspended at around 2 p.m. local time, with the airport gradually resuming operations from approximately 3 p.m.
Nearly 100,000 passengers affected
The strike came on one of Ben Gurion Airport’s busiest days of the summer. The Israel Airports Authority had expected approximately 100,000 passengers and around 600 flights to pass through the airport on August 20.
The stoppage created widespread delays, with passengers facing problems checking in, boarding aircraft and collecting or transferring baggage. Several flights heading towards Tel Aviv were also reportedly forced to turn around as airport operations were restricted.
The disruption was linked to concerns raised by airport workers over operational pressures, including staffing levels, aircraft loading and unloading difficulties and a shortage of parking stands.
Etihad warns passengers to check flight status
Etihad advised affected customers to ensure their contact information was up to date through the airline’s Manage My Booking system so that they could receive operational updates.
The airline’s Tel Aviv-Abu Dhabi route remained operational, but the combination of cancellations, delays and restricted passenger handling created uncertainty for travellers.
Airport operations eventually resumed, although the earlier disruption continued to have a knock-on effect on flight schedules and baggage processing.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of major aviation hubs during peak travel periods, where even a short interruption to ground-handling and check-in services can quickly affect hundreds of flights and tens of thousands of passengers.
For travellers flying through Ben Gurion Airport in the coming days, airlines are advising passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport and to allow additional time for possible operational delays.
