Ryanair Joins Growing Wave of Airlines Resuming Flights to Israel

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Major European carriers, including Air France, British Airways, and the Lufthansa group, are expected to restart service next month.

By Jewish Breaking News

Good news keeps rolling in for Israel-bound travelers as Ryanair sets its sights on resuming flights to Tel Aviv.

Following a year-long suspension, Ryanair’s chief executive Eddie Wilson has confirmed the budget carrier will return with an ambitious full schedule this summer.

“We rely on European Union Aviation Safety Agency guidance, but our view is that we will be back,” Wilson tells Reuters.

“We’ve got a full schedule I think for Tel Aviv, so we will be back in there for the summer as I think most of the other airlines will be.”

According to the Israel Airport Authority (IAA), about one-third of the 80 airlines that serviced Tel Aviv before the conflict have now resumed operations.

Wizz Air is already rapidly expanding its network by adding seven new destinations this week, including Abu Dhabi, Budapest, Krakow, London, Milan, Rome, and Warsaw.

Major European carriers, including Air France, British Airways, and the Lufthansa group, are expected to restart service next month.

However, the picture remains mixed for U.S. carriers.

While Delta plans to resume flights in April, United and American Airlines maintain their indefinite suspension of service as the conflict in Gaza continues.

United and Delta had previously attempted to restart flights periodically over the last year but extended suspensions following escalations in the war in Gaza and Lebanon, while American Airlines has remained absent from Israel’s skies since October 7, 2023.

The potential return of budget carriers may lead to the reopening of Terminal 1 at Ben-Gurion International Airport. The IAA closed the terminal in October when passenger traffic dwindled to just 20,000 travelers.

Terminal 1’s basic amenities, with its modest duty-free shopping and compact passenger areas, offer lower operational costs compared to the main terminal which should help keep flight prices competitive in an aviation market dominated by national carrier El Al.

As per Globes, El Al currently holds a 90% market share on North American routes and has seen its financial position strengthen considerably, generating a cash flow of $320 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $93 million in the same period of 2023.

Overall El Al’s net gain has grown to over $1 billion, while its net financial debt has decreased to $376 million.

Recent data from the IAA’s 2024 annual report shows that despite the disruptions, popular travel routes have remained active.

Greece led as the most popular destination for Israeli travelers, serving more than 1.8 million passengers, followed by the United States with approximately 1.4 million passengers, Cyprus with about 1 million passengers, the United Arab Emirates with roughly 890,000 passengers, and France with approximately 850,000 passengers.