Wizz Air capitalizes on rival’s absence with plans to triple capacity while Irish airline refuses to return without guarantees on costs and historic slots.
Ireland’s largest budget airline has pulled the plug on its winter service to Tel Aviv after failing to secure assurances from airport operators, opening the door for rival Wizz Air to dramatically expand its presence in Israel.
Ryanair confirmed it will cancel all 22 planned routes to Ben Gurion Airport this winter, marking a significant retreat from the Israeli market. The airline says it won’t resume flights until Tel Aviv’s airport authority confirms its historic landing slots for summer 2026 and guarantees continued access to the budget-friendly Terminal 1.
The decision stems from months of friction between the carrier and airport management over where planes can operate. Ben Gurion moved to close the lower-cost Terminal 1 and shift Ryanair operations to Terminal 3, where fees run substantially higher. That shift, Ryanair says, has rendered its routes unprofitable.
“We are not willing to restart loss-making flights to/from Tel Aviv for the winter season, without the certainty that our summer 2026 historic slots have been confirmed,” a Ryanair spokesperson said. “It is also unacceptable to Ryanair and our low-fare, price sensitive passengers, that our growth at Tel Aviv Airport is dependent upon the availability of the low-cost T1 facility.”
The airline added that if Ben Gurion confirms slots and honors the Terminal 1 agreement, it would “look forward to returning to Tel Aviv with Ryanair’s services.”
Security concerns tied to the Israel-Gaza conflict forced repeated service interruptions over the summer for multiple carriers. But while Ryanair scales back, Hungary-based Wizz Air is betting big on Israel’s aviation recovery.
Wizz Air plans to offer one million seats across 18 direct routes during the 2025/26 winter season. That represents a 240% jump in capacity compared to the previous winter.
The expansion will link Tel Aviv with major European cities including Budapest, Bucharest, Rome, Milan, London, Vienna, Warsaw and Athens. Budapest will see up to 16 weekly flights, while Bucharest gets 14. Italian destinations Rome and Milan will each receive up to 11 weekly services.
Wizz Air resumed operations to Israel on Aug. 8, 2025, after suspending flights during the summer security crisis. Like Ryanair, the carrier was forced to operate some flights from Terminal 3 instead of Terminal 1 after international traffic dropped following the events of Oct. 7, 2023. Reduced flight volumes made operating the budget terminal less economically viable for airport management.
The capacity increase comes as Wizz Air pursues approval to establish a permanent base at Ben Gurion Airport. Sources suggest the base could generate up to 30 daily flights, a major commitment to the Israeli market after the airline closed its Abu Dhabi operation.
Israel’s Transport Ministry backs the proposal, but the plan faces resistance from domestic carriers. El Al, Israir and Arkia Airlines argue that allowing a foreign low-cost carrier to establish a permanent base would inflict “substantial harm” on Israeli airlines and national interests.
El Al sent a letter to Israeli authorities claiming that a Wizz Air base would damage “national resilience” and public safety. The flag carrier pointed out that only Israeli airlines maintained service during recent conflicts while foreign carriers suspended operations. Israeli carriers also shoulder stricter security requirements and associated costs that most foreign airlines don’t face.
Despite the opposition, Wizz Air appears committed to expanding its Israeli footprint. The airline’s decision to press forward with winter expansion while Ryanair withdraws represents a calculated gamble that Israel’s aviation market will stabilize and grow despite ongoing regional tensions.
Ryanair maintains it will return for summer 2026, with tickets already on sale. But the airline insists it needs written confirmation on terminal access and slot retention before committing aircraft and crews to the winter schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Ryanair has canceled all 22 planned winter routes to Tel Aviv over disputes regarding terminal access and historic landing slots, refusing to return until Ben Gurion Airport guarantees low-cost Terminal 1 operations and confirms summer 2026 slots.
- Wizz Air will fill the gap with a 240% capacity increase, offering one million seats across 18 European routes during the 2025/26 winter season after resuming operations in August 2025.
- Wizz Air seeks to establish a permanent base at Ben Gurion with up to 30 daily flights, but faces opposition from Israeli carriers El Al, Israir and Arkia, who cite national security and economic concerns.
- Terminal cost disputes drove both carriers’ decisions, as airport management shifted operations from budget Terminal 1 to higher-cost Terminal 3 following reduced international traffic after Oct. 7, 2023.
