Váradi met in Jerusalem with Transport Minister Miri Regev, telling her that Wizz Air intends to invest 1 billion dollars in the Israeli market over the next three years. He said the airline will station 10 new aircraft in Israel, add 50 routes to its current 20, and create about 4,000 jobs. Roughly 500 of those positions would be direct Wizz Air hires, with the rest generated through direct and indirect employment.
The meeting was part of year-and-a-half-long talks between senior ministry officials and Wizz Air, Europe’s second-largest low-cost airline. It followed last month’s visit by ministry director general Moshe Ben Zaken and Israel Airports Authority director Sharon Kidon to Budapest.
Despite objections from Israeli carriers, the ministry has pursued Wizz Air aggressively in hopes that a permanent base at Ben Gurion will bring down average ticket prices by opening more destinations and increasing flight frequency.
Asked what would happen in the event of war, Váradi said the airline must follow the rules of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. “If we open a base here, we will receive more detailed security information that will help us make better decisions, but we will still need to comply with European regulations,” he said.
Regev said the initiative is part of the government’s effort to lower the cost of living. “The way to reduce prices is through competition and creativity,” she said, pointing to Israel’s successful Open Skies reform. She praised Israeli airlines for maintaining operations during national crises but criticized sharp fare hikes during difficult periods.
Regev said she has held ongoing talks with labor unions and executives of Israeli carriers. “We will increase competition but also do everything possible to protect Israeli airlines and their workers,” she said. Professional teams from both sides will continue discussions, with a follow-up meeting planned for late January.
Establishing a Wizz Air base in Israel would give the airline the same operational advantages Israeli carriers enjoy, including preferred takeoff and landing slots at peak times. In aviation terms, it is known as “seventh freedom” rights. The airline would still be considered foreign, meaning it would not be subject to the more stringent Israeli security regulations.
Executives of Israeli airlines warned the move could severely damage local carriers. Arkia CEO Oz Berlovich said, “We are not against competition. We only ask that any conditions given to Wizz be given to Israeli airlines as well. Otherwise, Israeli carriers will begin to disappear.”
A permanent base would allow Wizz Air to keep aircraft and crews in Israel, opening the door to more flights to destinations in the Balkans, the Caucasus, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. The Transport Ministry believes the added competition would significantly lower fares on new routes. One ministry condition is that Wizz Air also operate domestic flights between Tel Aviv and Eilat.
Israeli airlines currently enjoy a major advantage because they park their aircraft overnight at Ben Gurion, allowing access to highly demanded early-morning and late-night slots. Should Wizz Air base its planes in Israel, it would gain the same access, enabling morning departures from Tel Aviv and same-night returns from Europe — reducing hotel costs for crews and lowering prices for passengers.
The issue has disrupted the local aviation sector, drawing opposition from the Civil Aviation Authority, El Al, Arkia and Israir. Israeli carriers warn that in wartime, when foreign airlines often halt service, Israel could again face isolation if local companies are weakened.
During a visit to Wizz Air headquarters in Budapest three weeks ago, company officials said many low-cost flights from Israel currently land in Europe late at night, forcing overnight stays for crews. Return flights often depart Europe early in the morning, requiring another overnight. Parking aircraft in Israel overnight would eliminate those costs. Officials emphasized, however, that the move is not expected to happen immediately or in the coming months.