Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair announced Tuesday that it will not resume operating flights to and from Tel Aviv during the upcoming winter season. The company cites Ben Gurion International Airport's refusal to allocate its historical flight schedule (slots) for summer 2026 season and lack of commitment to keep Terminal 1 open if hostilities or wars erupt again.
Ryanair maintains that the company's operations during the recent summer were disrupted repeatedly following Ben Gurion Airport's decisions to close Terminal 1 several times, transferring the company's flights to the significantly more expensive Terminal 3. According to the airline, this rendered the low-cost routes unprofitable. The company will forfeit approximately one million seats and 22 direct routes to Tel Aviv during the winter season.
"We are fed up with our flights being affected time after time. It is absurd that Ben Gurion Airport refuses to approve the summer 2026 allocations, when flight schedules are already being sold. We will not return to operate loss-making flights during the upcoming winter without certainty for summer allocations and regular operations in Terminal 1," Ryanair's department stated.
Additionally, Ryanair noted that they are prepared to cooperate with airport management in temporary transfers to Terminal 3 when necessary, but demand that costs remain in accordance with Terminal 1 rates.
"Until a guarantee is given for summer allocations and maintaining Terminal 1 operations, Ryanair will not return to operate from Tel Aviv. The company clarifies that only after clear clarifications from Ben Gurion Airport management, it will consider resuming its operations with 22 routes and low prices that have no competitors in the Israeli market."
Ryanair operated flights to more than 20 destinations including Germany, Poland, Italy, Bulgaria, France, Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Hungary and others.
