One of the main obstacles to establishing the base was the ban on foreign airlines parking planes overnight at Ben Gurion Airport — a basic requirement for operating a permanent base. In February, an interministerial committee approved removing the restriction, a move seen as a significant step toward establishing Wizz Air’s base in Israel. But despite the regulatory progress, the company continued extending its flight cancellations to Israel, and now the entire move has been frozen.
Against the backdrop of Wizz Air’s continued cancellations, the state of Israel’s aviation industry continues to shift. Some foreign airlines have already resumed routes to Ben Gurion Airport, including Aegean Airlines, Etihad Airways, Flydubai, Hainan Airlines and Cyprus Airways.
At the same time, several major airlines are still delaying their return to Israel. The Lufthansa Group said it would continue canceling flights through June, British Airways and Iberia Express extended their cancellations through the end of June, while U.S. carriers Delta, United and Air Canada have suspended their Israel routes until September. AirBaltic, Norwegian, KLM and Air France have also yet to resume operations.
