Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air is pressing ahead with plans to establish a major hub at Ben-Gurion Airport, a move that could reshape Israel’s aviation market with up to 200 weekly flights and slash ticket prices for travelers. But Israeli airlines are waging a full-scale campaign to block the initiative, warning it could “collapse Israeli aviation,” while regulators remain split.
Transport Minister Miri Regev has thrown her weight behind the proposal, seeing it as a breakthrough for competition and affordability. “We want to open Israel to the world,” one ministry official said, emphasizing the potential economic benefits. Wizz Air argues the hub would add as much as $2 billion annually to Israel’s GDP, create jobs for local crews, and even ensure continued flights in wartime.
Yet the Civil Aviation Authority insists clear rules must be set for both foreign and Israeli carriers before granting the green light. Industry sources say Wizz Air is demanding access to Terminal 1’s lower operating costs and permission to run routes to high-demand destinations like Bangkok and New York, even leasing long-haul aircraft if necessary.
