Irish airline Ryanair is considering permanently dropping its flights to Israel, according to CEO Michael O’Leary, who blamed the potential total withdrawal from the Israeli market on constant uncertainty and lack of growth, rather than any political views about the ongoing violence in Gaza and the wider region.
Since October 2023, when the Islamic Resistance Movement known as Hamas attacked Israel from Palestine, leading to a new and unprecedentedly violent phase in the decades-long conflict between the two territories, international airline schedules to and from Israel have been disrupted.
Like a majority of carriers, Ryanair suspended flights due to security concerns and has previously said Israeli routes would not resume until October 2025, with O’Leary warning he was “losing patience” with the situation.
Now, though, he has gone further, indicating that resumption may not take place at all. Speaking to the press after Ryanair’s annual general meeting, he complained about airport charges at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, where only the more expensive main terminal (T3) is open, because the low-cost terminal (T1) has been closed as a result of the security situation since October 2024.
“There’s a real possibility that we won’t bother going back to Israel”, he said, adding, “Unless the Israelis get their act together and stop messing us around, frankly, we have far more growth elsewhere in Europe.” He went on to note: “This is going to be an ongoing issue for all airlines and all European citizens for the next number of years,” and clarified: “The risk is one of continuous disruption, rather than of safety.”
Authorities at Ben Gurion are not alone in attracting O’Leary’s ire. He has criticised airport operators all over Europe for their charges to airlines, threatening to cut schedules and focus on destinations where the cost to carriers is lower.
Accusing Spanish airport manager Aena of “excessive” fees, Ryanair announced in September it would cut its Spanish regional offer by 600,000 seats (41%), as well as slashing 400,000 seats in the Canary Islands (10%) over the winter of 2025. The move means 36 direct connections with Spain and the Canary Islands will thus be cancelled, and operations at three Spanish bases (Santiago, Tenerife North, and Vigo) will cease altogether over the coming months.
Similarly, Belgium has come in for a slating. At the end of August, O’Leary blamed “recklessly increased” airport charges among the highest in Europe at Belgium’s main airport at Brussels Zaventem, for a six per cent reduction in flights there. The carrier has also denounced Belgium’s 150% increase in aviation taxes, which are up from €2 to €5 per traveller.
