Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair is threatening to halt its operations in Israel indefinitely, even after the current fighting against Hamas in Gaza subsides.
Chief Executive Officer Michael O'Leary said this week that the company is "tired of being messed around" by the authorities at Ben-Gurion Airport, and is seriously reconsidering whether to continue investing in its Israel route.
His unusual comments came as Ryanair extended its suspension of flights to Israel until at least the end of October. O'Leary noted that beyond the difficult security situation, Ben-Gurion Airport places heavy burdens on budget airlines, including high operating costs.
Industry experts estimate that Ryanair, which operates hundreds of routes across Europe and beyond, could shift aircraft to more stable destinations if it sees no meaningful improvement in Israel. "The company has plenty of alternatives and is not tied to the Israeli market," one aviation source said.
For Israeli travelers, who have come to rely on Ryanair for especially cheap flights to European destinations, the airline's withdrawal would deal a serious blow. The loss of Ryanair could sharply reduce competition and send ticket prices soaring.
