Wizz Air Accelerates Full Return to Israel by September

Wizz Air will fully restore its flight schedule to Israel by early September 2025, marking an accelerated return to one of its key markets. The Budapest-based low-cost carrier suspended Tel Aviv flights in June amid the Israel–Iran conflict but will resume service starting August 8, ramping up to full capacity by mid-September.

Wizz Air CEO József Váradi said the airline conducted a thorough safety review before resuming operations. “Israel has been operating airports very safely, even during the war,” he stated during the Q1 earnings call. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has also downgraded its risk classification for Israeli airspace, supporting Wizz Air’s decision to restart service.

While other carriers like easyJet have delayed their return until 2026, Wizz is pushing forward to capitalize on demand. “We are at a totally different scale versus any of those guys,” Váradi said, emphasizing the strategic importance of the Israeli market.

Initial routes will connect Tel Aviv with Wizz Air bases in Budapest, London Luton, Milan Malpensa, Vienna, Bucharest, Sofia, and Larnaca. Prior to the June suspension, Wizz operated 15 routes to Tel Aviv, offering around 47,200 weekly seats, according to OAG data.

Despite Israel being classified as a “hot and harsh” operating environment, Wizz Air sees it as a high-value market. The return is part of a broader strategic shift, including a phased exit from Abu Dhabi, a reduced A321XLR order, and a moderated growth target of 10%–12% annually focused on Central and Eastern Europe.

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