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EL AL is pushing back against a reported plan by Wizz Air to establish a base in Israel, warning that the move could damage the country’s aviation sector.
The Hungarian low-cost carrier has been eyeing a base at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport since the spring.
And now that Wizz Air has announced it is pulling out of Abu Dhabi, all eyes are on its potential future operation in Israel, and whether the airline will pivot to this market, which has been heavily impacted by the ongoing war.
Wizz Air’s move to Tel Aviv has opponents in Israel
The move has not been unanimously popular. According to a letter sent to the Israeli authorities, reported by Israeli outlet N12, EL AL CEO Dina Ben Tal Ganancia and the airline’s board chair set out their concerns over the potential impact of Wizz Air’s proposal.
“The plan entails a risk of substantial harm to Israeli airlines in particular and to the State of Israel in general,” their letter stated.
“It could lead to negative consequences for national resilience and the safety of the Israeli public on flights from and to Israel.”
Photo: EL AL
El Al argued that Israeli carriers “serve as an air bridge between Israel and the nations of the world and play a vital role in maintaining the State of Israel’s resilience.”
The letter claimed the move “adds to other measures that hurt Israeli aviation and creates competitive inequality,” pointing to the “stringent security requirements and high costs” borne by Israeli airlines, which it said foreign operators are not required to meet.
Wizz Air sees opportunity in Tel Aviv
Wizz Air has not yet publicly responded to reports of its new base or EL AL’s objections.
The LCC’s CEO, Jozsef Varadi, is expected to visit Israel soon to discuss the deal.
Israel’s Minister of Transport Miri Regev will make the final decision.
The country’s Civil Aviation Authority is urging the government to withdraw from the talks with Wizz Air, according to Israeli publication Globes.
However, governmental departments are said to favour the move as a means of driving economic growth and supporting the country’s fragile aviation ecosystem.
LCC’s early return to Israel
Earlier in the summer, Wizz Air announced its early return to Tel Aviv, restarting services to Israel from its bases elsewhere in Europe and the Middle East more than a month earlier than planned, beginning on 8 August, instead of 15 September.
“As air travel opens up in the region, Wizz Air isn’t just watching – it’s bringing back its iconic pink jets to Israeli skies as soon as it can,” the airline said.
The LCC will eventually link Tel Aviv with Budapest, Larnaca, Milan, Rome, London, Vienna, Bucharest, Iasi, Sofia and Abu Dhabi.
Photo: Wizz Air
Flights from Hungary and Cyprus began on 8 August, with Abu Dhabi and London Luton resuming a week and two weeks later, respectively.
Vienna, Bucharest, Iasi, Sofia, Milan and Rome will restart on 1 September.
András Radó, head of communications at Wizz Air, said: “Our early return to Tel Aviv demonstrates our commitment to our loyal Israeli passengers and to keeping the world connected.”
Wizz Air said it planned to “dominate” the Europe-Tel Aviv segment, becoming the biggest European foreign airline again in Israel in terms of capacity.
Out of the 24 routes to 11 countries offered by the airline to Tel Aviv, 10 routes to eight countries will commence operations earlier than planned, while the rest of the Tel Aviv-bound routes will return on 15 September.
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