Overview

• El Al’s CEO and board chair sent a formal letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu and Transport Minister Regev on August 13, calling the proposal “an extreme step” and “a dangerous precedent.”
• The airline argued that foreign carriers benefit from lighter security and economic obligations, creating an uneven playing field for domestic operators.
• El Al warned that stationing Wizz Air crews at Ben Gurion Airport would intensify runway slot shortages and could compromise national resilience and passenger safety.
• Transport Minister Miri Regev has initiated a comprehensive stakeholder review to evaluate whether opening a Wizz Air base can boost competition and lower fares.
• Wizz Air’s CEO is scheduled to visit Israel next month to advance discussions with authorities as the regulatory process continues under review.