Ryanair will not resume TLV flight operations over dispute with Ben-Gurion Airport, airline says

Ryanair scrapped 22 routes to Tel Aviv this winter, blaming slot delays and Terminal 1 closures, while Ben-Gurion Airport denies disruptions and faults the airline.

Low-cost airline Ryanair announced on Tuesday that it will not resume operations in Israel during the winter 2026 season due to a dispute with Ben-Gurion Airport over the scheduling of its summer 2026 season flights.

The airline commented that its flights were "repeatedly disrupted" during the summer 2025 season, due to "security concerns over Israeli airspace," as well as Ben-Gurion Airport's "repeated decisions (3 times) to close the low-cost T1 and force Ryanair into high-cost T3."

The airline stated that it "sincerely regrets" having to cancel the 22 low-fare routes.

"We are fed up with having our low-fare flights repeatedly messed around by Ben-Gurion Airport. It is absurd that they refused to confirm our summer 2026 slots, when summer 2026 schedules are already on sale," an airline spokesperson said.

"It is also unacceptable to Ryanair and our low-fare, price-sensitive passengers that our growth at Tel Aviv Airport is dependent upon the availability of the low-cost T1 facility. However, Tel Aviv Airport keeps closing this facility for its own convenience, forcing Ryanair and other low-cost airlines into the more expensive T3 – where we do not want to be – but they refuse to honour the low-cost agreement, which T1 facilities provide," the spokesperson added.

"Until such time as Ben-Gurion Airport confirms our historic S26 slots, and confirms that they will in future keep T1 open, we will not restart low-fare flights to/from Tel Aviv this winter," the spokesperson continued.

"Should Ben-Gurion wish to confirm our summer 2026 slots and confirm that they will honour our low-cost T1 agreement, then we will look forward to returning to Tel Aviv with Ryanair’s services, offering 22 routes at fares which no other airline in Tel Aviv can match, or compete with," the statement concluded.

Ben-Gurion Airport officials blame the airline for decision

However, officials from Ben-Gurion Airport blamed the low-cost airline for the decision, Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported.

"We regret the manipulations Ryanair is making at the expense of the Israeli passenger. It appears the Irish company has decided not to fly to Israel and is now trying to minimize damage with passengers who purchased tickets for the coming months," the officials said, according to KAN.

The airport also denied allegations that there are issues with scheduling and operations at Terminal 1. "Terminal 1 is open and operating as usual. Ryanair received the slots for all the dozens of weekly flights and destinations it requested for the 2025–2026 winter season," the officials said, according to KAN.