Senior Ryanair executive Eddie Wilson told Reuters today (Thursday) that the airline intends to fully return to service Israel by the summer of this year.
Wilson said that they rely on the guidance of the European EASA on whether it's safe or recommended to continue to service a given country, but did say that "our view is that we will be back."
Wilson further told Reuters that "We've got a full schedule I think for Tel Aviv...so we will be back in there for the summer as I think most of the other airlines will be."
Israel has been suffering from constant disruptions and cancellations by major foreign airlines to multiple destinations due to the threat of rockets and projectiles fired by Hamas, Hezbollah, pro-Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq and now also the Houthis in Yemen at the center of the country.
While some airlines entirely ended their servicing of Israel, others tried to maintain a cautious wait and see approach, leaving in times of escalation and then returning once calm is restored. This is especially true of European airlines.
Meanwhile, many Israelis have complained about being almost entirely dependent on the few Israeli airlines - which must operate regularly barring an emergency - due to higher prices and decreasing availability of seats.
Many Israelis and even some Congressmembers have been fiercely critical of airlines in the United States who have thus far refused to return to servicing Israel, leading to a de facto boycott even though their intention is to maintain the safety of their pilots and avoid entering into a warzone.
A further point of contention revolves around Ben Gurion Airport's Terminal 1, which is used to service low-cost airlines for reduced fees and payments. Israel shut it down when the war started and has not reopened it since due to policy disputes within the country.
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