Wizz Air’s London to Tel Aviv route returns
European budget carrier now offering five flights a week despite UK Foreign Office travel guidance remaining at 'red' level
Wizz Air has reopened its London Luton to Ben Gurion flights, marking the airline’s return to the Tel Aviv route.
Although Foreign Office guidance remains at ‘red’, the Budapest-based budget carrier has committed to flying five times per week from today, joining EL AL and Israir in offering a pathway to visit Israel after the outbreak of war with Iran in February led to travel restrictions.
The decision also comes after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency revised its own safety recommendations and lessened its previous guidance against flying through Israeli airspace.
Wizz Air is resuming service to Tel Aviv across major European cities, including Rome, Budapest, Athens, Larnaca, Warsaw and Milan, and plans to run a full schedule to and from Israel during the busy summer season.
Michael Ben Baruch, UK director of the Israel ministry of tourism said: “We are really pleased Wizz Air has resumed flying between London and Tel Aviv after its recent pause in service. We know nascent demand exists for travel to Israel from the UK. The greater the number of flight options available the better, as we anticipate, and hope for, a normalisation of travel and rising demand for flights between our countries.”
Before the conflict with Iran began, Wizz Air had planned to open a hub at Ben-Gurion airport this spring.
Lufthansa group plans a phased return to flights to Israel with Austrian Airlines on June 1, followed by Lufthansa, Swiss and ITA on July 1