Will Wizz Air take advantage of the gap left by Ryanair? Talks about a hub in Israel are ongoing

The Israeli government is negotiating with the Hungarian airline Wizz Air to establish a hub at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, the Haaretz daily reported on Friday. According to the newspaper, the airline wants to increase the number of flights to Israel at the expense of its competitor, Ryanair, and fly there, among others. from the Balkans, South Caucasus and UAE.

The Israeli Ministry of Transport wants Wizz Air to also operate domestic flights, from Ben Gurion Airport to the Red Sea resort of Eilat, Haarets wrote, citing sources.

The Hungarian carrier, in turn, demands an increase in the number of slots at the Tel Aviv airport at the expense of the Irish airline Ryanair. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary announced in September that his airline may not return to operating flights to Israel. Currently, this carrier's cruises are still suspended.

Wizz Air would like to use a possible hub in Tel Aviv for direct flights, among others. to the South Caucasus, the Balkan countries and the United Arab Emirates – the newspaper calculated.

She added that the creation of a Hungarian airlines base in Tel Aviv may be hampered by regulatory issues. Aviation companies operating from Israel must, among other things: employ pilots from that country, place security agents on all flights, and operate flights even during war, including evacuation flights of Israeli citizens.

According to “Haarec”, Wizz Air's expansion plans have raised concerns among Israeli airlines, which demand that the Hungarian carrier is not exempt from any of these regulations.

Due to the wars waged by Israel over the past two years, foreign airlines have repeatedly canceled flights to this country for long periods of time. Some of them still do not fly to Israel.

From Jerusalem Jerzy Adamiak (PAP)

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