Wizz Air is preparing a significant push into Israel, planning to open two operational bases from March that would anchor long-term activity at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and Ramon Airport near Eilat. The move, revealed by Globes, signals renewed confidence in Israeli aviation and sets the stage for a sharp rise in low-cost travel to and from the country.
The first confirmed route from Ramon will be to Budapest. More are expected to follow.
Two Bases, One Clear Strategy
The Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has reached understandings with Israeli authorities to establish bases at both Ben Gurion Airport and Ramon Airport.
Operations are scheduled to begin in March.
Initially, the airline plans to station one aircraft in Israel, operated by a mixed crew setup. Pilots will be brought in from abroad, while most cabin crew positions will be filled locally. Over time, the base is expected to grow steadily.
Wizz Air’s longer-term ambition is substantial. The company is targeting up to 60 flights per day once the Israeli bases are fully built out.
That number alone hints at how central Israel could become to its regional network.
Ramon Airport Gets a Boost With Eilat–Budapest Route
The first international route from Ramon Airport has already been agreed.
According to Globes, Wizz Air will launch flights between Eilat and Budapest, marking the airline’s debut at Israel’s southern gateway.
This is more than a single route announcement.
Ramon Airport has struggled at times to attract consistent international traffic, despite heavy state investment and its strategic location near Eilat’s resort zone. A committed base operator changes that equation.
Under the agreement with the Ministry of Transport, Wizz Air has committed to operating two daily international routes from Ramon. Crews will overnight in the Eilat area, a condition designed to ensure stable, continuous activity rather than seasonal experimentation.
The airline will also operate domestic flights between Ben Gurion and Ramon, strengthening internal connectivity and potentially lowering prices on a route that has often been costly.
For Eilat, the message is clear. Low-cost aviation is coming back in force.
Ben Gurion Base and a Summer Capacity Push
At Ben Gurion Airport, Wizz Air’s plans are even more ambitious.
The airline intends to add two additional aircraft during the summer season, sharply increasing seat capacity at Israel’s main hub. That expansion would place Wizz Air in direct competition with Israeli carriers on popular European routes.
To make that viable, the company has asked for access to high-value takeoff and landing slots during peak hours. These slots are limited, politically sensitive, and fiercely defended by incumbent airlines.
Securing them would allow Wizz Air to go head-to-head on timing, not just price.
That request, unsurprisingly, has triggered resistance.
Israeli Airlines Push Back
Israel’s established carriers have voiced opposition to the creation of a Wizz Air base, arguing that preferential treatment for a foreign low-cost airline could distort competition.
In response, Transport Minister Miri Regev instructed the director general of the Civil Aviation Authority to convene a 30-day hearing. The process will allow Israeli airlines to present their objections formally.
The outcome is not predetermined.
On one hand, policymakers want cheaper flights, more tourism, and stronger links with Europe. On the other, domestic airlines argue they carry national obligations, including security costs and year-round operations that foreign carriers don’t always shoulder.
This tension has surfaced before. It rarely resolves cleanly.
Still, the very fact that the talks have advanced this far suggests political momentum favors opening the market wider.
Routes Beyond Europe, Then a Quiet Retreat
During negotiations, Wizz Air also floated a more controversial idea.
The airline sought permission to operate flights from Israel to destinations outside the European Union, including the Balkans and the United Arab Emirates. That request stood out because Wizz Air is registered as a European carrier and typically operates within EU aviation frameworks.
Granting such permission would have marked a notable policy shift.
For now, that proposal has been dropped.
Sources say the decision helped smooth the path for agreements on the bases themselves. By narrowing the scope to Europe-focused operations, Wizz Air reduced friction with regulators and competitors alike.
The retreat doesn’t rule out future expansion beyond Europe. It just postpones the debate.
Why Israel Matters to Wizz Air
Israel fits neatly into Wizz Air’s broader playbook.
The airline specializes in high-frequency routes between secondary and primary cities, driven by price-sensitive travelers. Israel offers strong year-round demand, a large diaspora, and a population accustomed to flying often.
Recent years have shown how quickly capacity can evaporate when geopolitical risks rise. Wizz Air’s willingness to invest in physical bases signals confidence that demand will hold, and that disruptions can be managed.
It also reflects competition.
Ryanair, easyJet, and other low-cost rivals have all tested the Israeli market with varying levels of commitment. Establishing bases, rather than relying solely on point-to-point flights, gives Wizz Air an edge in flexibility and cost control.
In simple terms, bases mean staying power.
What It Means for Travelers
For passengers, the implications are straightforward.
More routes. More seats. More price pressure.
Flights from Eilat, in particular, have often been limited and expensive. A Budapest connection opens Central Europe directly, and further destinations are likely once operations settle.
Domestic flights between Ben Gurion and Ramon could also reshape travel habits, offering a faster alternative to long road journeys to Israel’s south.
There are still details to be finalized. Timetables, fares, and additional routes have yet to be published.
But the direction of travel is clear.
A Calculated Bet With Regional Impact
Wizz Air’s Israel move is not a small experiment.
Opening two bases, staffing them locally, and aiming for dozens of daily flights represents a calculated bet on market recovery and liberalized aviation policy. It also tests how far Israel is willing to go in welcoming foreign low-cost dominance at its main airport.
For now, momentum sits with expansion.
If hearings conclude without major restrictions, March could mark one of the most significant shifts in Israel’s aviation landscape in years, especially for travelers priced out of traditional carriers.
