Ryanair said it may never resume flights to Israel after violence linked to the Gaza war recedes, with Chief Executive Michael O'Leary citing higher airport charges and the continued closure of the airport's low-cost terminal for security reasons.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin, O'Leary said the airline was being "messed around" by airport authorities and that there was "a real possibility that we won't bother going back to Israel" when operations resume. He warned Ryanair had other growth opportunities elsewhere in Europe if conditions at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport did not improve.
Earlier this summer Ryanair had joined carriers including British Airways and easyJet in suspending flights to Israel until at least Oct. 25 because of the conflict. O'Leary's remarks suggested the suspension could become permanent unless Ben Gurion alters its fee structure or reopens facilities used by low-cost operators; the airport has kept its low-cost terminal closed for security reasons. Ryanair has not announced a formal permanent withdrawal.
The comments came amid wider operational pressures on European carriers. Ryanair said its punctuality fell to about 60% this week after several Polish airports temporarily closed while the country's military shot down Russian drones, compared with a typical on-time rate of roughly 90%. O'Leary also warned that increased NATO air activity over southern and eastern Poland related to the Russia-Ukraine war was constraining commercial airspace and could cause prolonged disruption.
Ryanair has separately stepped up public pressure on the United Kingdom's air traffic control provider, NATS. The carrier launched a website titled "Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight," encouraging affected passengers to contact UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander directly. Ryanair said 5,782 of its flights were impacted by delays linked to NATS between Jan. 1 and Sept. 1, affecting more than one million passengers, and called on the government to address what it described as mismanagement and staff shortages at the provider.
O'Leary framed the issue as part of a broader set of operational challenges for the industry. "This is going to be an ongoing issue for all airlines and all European citizens for the next number of years. The risk is one of continuous disruption, rather than of safety," he said, referring to the constraints on airspace and the knock-on effects for scheduling and punctuality.
Airlines around Europe have had to alter schedules and suspend routes in response to security developments in the Middle East and escalating military activity in Eastern Europe. Carriers have cited passenger safety, insurance considerations and the availability of airport facilities as factors in decisions to pause or curtail services to affected destinations.
Neither Ryanair nor Ben Gurion Airport provided an immediate, detailed response to requests for comment on O'Leary's remarks. The Israeli airport authority has previously said any operational changes, including the status of terminals, reflect security assessments and the need to protect passengers and staff. Ryanair has not provided a timetable for any final decision about its future operations in Israel.
The airline's statements underscore how regional conflicts and related security measures, along with commercial disputes over airport fees, are shaping route networks and strategy for low-cost carriers. Industry analysts say such factors, together with air traffic control constraints, could influence airline routing and capacity decisions through the coming years.