Ryanair and Wizz Air Consider Returning to Israel in January 2025 with Special Conditions
The two leading international low-cost airlines, Ryanair and Wizz Air, have begun talks with aviation officials in Israel to examine returning to operate flights to and from Israel. The date being considered for resuming operations is early January 2025. However, the airlines’ representatives stress that there is no official approval for a return yet, though it’s a move being examined very seriously.
The Airlines’ Conditions for Returning to Operations in Israel
The two airlines have set key conditions for their return to Israel:
- Using Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion: the low-cost airlines prefer to fly through Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion because of its lower costs compared with Terminal 3. However, the Israel Airports Authority announced that Terminal 1 will be closed to international flights until the end of March 2025, which puts this demand up against a logistical difficulty, and we’ll have to keep following how this issue is resolved.
- Economic incentives: the airlines are demanding incentives from the Israel Airports Authority to return to operations in the country. This issue is now on the table and may require further discussions between the parties.
The Importance of Low-Cost Airlines for Israel
Airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air have played a significant role in the Israeli aviation market in recent years:
- Wizz Air: in 2023 the airline flew 1.998 million passengers to and from Israel, 9.5% of all passengers. This is a significant increase compared with 2022, when the airline flew 1.474 million passengers. In 2024, until it stopped operating in Israel, Wizz Air flew 637,793 passengers.
- Ryanair: in 2023 the airline flew 1.147 million passengers, 5.44% of all passengers. In 2022 it flew 1.308 million passengers. In 2024, until it stopped its flights, Ryanair flew only 77,057 passengers to and from Israel.
The Future Depends on Decisions
The return of Ryanair and Wizz Air to Israel could have a significant impact on flight prices and competition in the local aviation market. The decisions made by the Israel Airports Authority regarding the use of Terminal 1 and providing incentives may determine the future of these airlines’ operations in Israel. It’s reasonable to assume that with the return of Wizz Air and Ryanair to Israel, the wave will bring more airlines back to Israel.
We’ll keep following and updating on developments.
