Wizz Air steps back from Israel hub plan

As the CEO of Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air visits Israel, Globes has learned that the company has decided to back away from the plan to establish a hub here.

In conversations between Wizz Air and government officials, a fear arose on the part of the company’s management that the number of turns its planes would be able to make at Ben Gurion Airport would be less than planned, making the economic model it had developed for operating flights between Israel and Europe irrelevant.

In addition, according to what was reported by “Globes”, the company is seeking to obtain seventh place Air freedomIt is the right to fly between two countries without stopping in the airline’s home country. Wizz Air, registered in Hungary, sought to operate flights from Israel to Europe, and there was no problem with that. The problems began when the airline realized that these flights would not be enough for it, and sought to operate flights from Israel to countries outside the European Union, in the Balkans, and then to the United Arab Emirates as well.

Israeli officials are divided over this request. It will have a significant negative impact on Israeli airlines, as Wizz Air will in effect be able to operate like an Israeli airline but without Israeli regulations imposing security arrangements, collective labor agreements, etc.

Ministry of Transport Director General Moshe Ben Zaken lobbied the airline to establish its hub at Eilat’s Ramon Airport instead of Ben Gurion, which could have significantly boosted tourism in the region, as well as creating jobs, but Wizz Air did not respond favorably to the request.

In any case, the Wizz Air CEO’s visit to Israel is aimed at trying to fill the gaps, but more gaps keep emerging.

Israel is very keen to see the success of the plan to establish a Wizz Air hub in the country. Transportation Minister Miri Regev is personally involved in this matter, and could provide her with a major breakthrough if it leads to lower prices.

Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on November 25, 2025.

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