While most foreign airlines were doing a disappearing act, Israel’s homegrown trio El Al, Arkia, and Israir stayed firmly in the skies post-October 7th. That consistency has earned them loyalty, praise, and very full planes.
Now, a new contender wants in. And not just with a handful of routes; we’re talking uniforms, bases, and possibly full-blown Israeli citizenship (for the airline, that is).
In This Post
Wizz Air: Plotting a Tel Aviv Takeover?
According to Israel’s Channel 13, Wizz Air is eyeing a shiny new base at Ben Gurion Airport, and it’s not just talk. The airline’s CEO, József Váradi, recently met with Israel’s Transport Minister Miri Regev, and both sides are reportedly working to seal the deal by July.
This wouldn’t just be a few more flights. We’re talking:
- Israeli crews
- Domestic ops between Tel Aviv and Eilat
- New routes to India, Morocco, and more
- And likely the launch of Wizz Air Israel, a localised, licensed version of the ultra-low-cost giant
If it sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Wizz has done this dance before with Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, Wizz Air UK, and Wizz Air Malta, each tailored to circumvent pesky issues such as foreign ownership laws and traffic rights. In Abu Dhabi’s case, the UAE holds 51%, giving Wizz just enough skin in the game to fly long and wide.
Expect something similar here.
The Fleet & Fight
Wizz Air’s fleet consists of Airbus A320s and A321S, efficient single-aisle workhorses perfect for short- and medium-haul operations. That means no direct competition with El Al’s long-haul 787s but plenty of turbulence for Arkia and Israir, who rely heavily on those same regional routes.
Wizz already connects Tel Aviv to a substantial list of cities, including Athens, Abu Dhabi, Bucharest, Budapest, London (both Luton and Gatwick), Milan, Vienna, Warsaw, and many more. A local base could quickly expand that list, especially with Africa and Asia firmly in its sights.
The Big Question: Will Wizz Stick Around in a Crisis?
One key reason Israeli airlines earned brownie points during recent conflicts? They didn’t bail. But foreign carriers? Poof gone faster than you can say, “Code Orange.”
So, will Wizz Air Israel behave like a national airline in times of crisis or disappear into European airspace? If it’s locally based with Israeli staff and an Israeli AOC (Air Operator’s Certificate), it might just be bound to keep flying, provided insurance and union issues don’t get in the way.
But if it chickens out the moment things heat up? Trust will plummet faster than an A321 in a nosedive.
Final Approach
Wizz Air is clearly betting big on Israel, and with 230 aircraft, it’s not just a toe dip. It could dramatically lower fares, shake up the local airline scene, and become Israel’s de facto fourth national carrier.
Whether you’re ready to jump on board or you’re clutching your El Al Matmid status like a security blanket, one thing’s for sure: the Israeli skies are about to get a lot pinker.
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