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Ryanair has again suspended flights to Israel’s main airport in Tel Aviv, this time in a row over charges for the use of a terminal.
The airline cancelled all flights to and from Israel on October 7th in the wake of the Hamas attacks.
It then resumed services on February 1st.
But the airline claims it was forced by Ben Gurion International Airport to use Terminal 3, where charges are higher than Terminal 1 which it had previously used.
This was because the low-cost Terminal 1 was closed.
Ryanair said it didn’t mind using Terminal 3, but requested that it be charged the lower prices of Terminal 1 while it had no option but to use the more expensive facility.
However, the airline claims that Ben Gurion International Airport refused this request and so it suspended flights yesterday.
“We worked hard with the Israeli Govt and Ben Gurion International Airport to re-establish Ryanair’s low fare flights to/from Tel Aviv on 1st Feb last,” said Ryanair CEO, Eddie Wilson.
“We were deeply disappointed by Ben Gurion International Airport’s refusal to reopen the low-cost Terminal 1 where Ryanair normally operates.”
“We don’t mind if the airport forces us to put Ryanair flights through Terminal 3 on an interim basis because of the large decline in traffic to/from Tel Aviv, but this should be done on the agreed Terminal 1 prices, not Terminal 3 prices.”
The airline said the flights will remain suspended until the airport re-opens Terminal 1.
“Ryanair wishes to support Ben Gurion International Airport and the recovery of air travel to/from Israel,” Mr Wilson said.
“But we cannot do so, or ask our passengers to pay higher air fares while Ben Gurion International Airport keep the low-cost Terminal 1 closed and force our flights into the high-cost Terminal 3, charging fees which were never agreed by Ryanair.”
RTÉ News has contacted Ben Gurion International Airport for comment.
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