Ryanair has announced it will not resume flights to Tel Aviv, citing a lack of commitments from Ben Gurion Airport, reports Breaking News.
The airline stated it would only bring back 22 routes if it receives clear assurances regarding terminal fees and confirmation that it will retain the same summer slots in 2026 that it had this year.
Last week, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary told journalists that the airport had until Tuesday to confirm it would maintain “low-cost” fees if Ryanair operations were moved to the more expensive terminal, and that all previous slots would be reinstated for next summer, reports Breaking News.
He warned that without these guarantees, the airline would not return to operating in Israel, adding: “Frankly, it wouldn’t cost me much of a thought.”
Ryanair’s flights to Tel Aviv faced ongoing disruption this summer due to safety concerns in Israeli airspace and decisions by the airport to occasionally shift Ryanair from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 – which comes with higher operating expenses, reports Breaking News.
On Tuesday, a Ryanair spokesperson said: “We are fed up having our low-fare flights repeatedly messed around by Ben Gurion Airport. It is absurd that they refused to confirm our summer 2026 slots, when summer 2026 schedules are already on sale,” reports Breaking News.
“We appreciate that many airlines, including Ryanair, cancelled their flights to/from Tel Aviv this summer, but only because it was unsafe to operate there,” reports Breaking News.
“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,” reports Breaking News.
The airline emphasised it has “no difficulty” cooperating with the Tel Aviv airport on a temporary move to Terminal 3, but stressed this should come with Terminal 1 pricing.
“Until such time as Ben Gurion Airport confirm our historic S26 slots, and confirm that they will in future keep T1 open, we will not restart low-fare flights to/from Tel Aviv this winter.”
Ben Gurion Airport has been asked for a response, reports Breaking News.
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