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Ryanair returns to Tel Aviv after cancelling 950 flights in January

Ryanair has resumed flights to Tel Aviv which had been suspended over the winter due to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The carrier has brought routes back to Ben Gurion airport from points in Europe such as Austria, France, Germany and Italy.

But the airline is offering reduced capacity on the services that are returning.

Ryanair has beaten budget rival Wizz Air back to Israel, with the eastern and central European carrier planning the resumption of routes to Tel Aviv from Luton airport and five other points in Europe from March 1. 

The news came as Ryanair reported a three per cent year-on-year rise in passenger carryings in January to 12.2 million, despite cancelling more than 950 flights during the month due to the Israel-Gaza situation.

Wizz Air’s January carryings rose by more than 14% to 4.7 million. 

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow to Tel Aviv remain suspended until March 30.

However, a number of European airlines have restarted services to the Israeli airport, including Lufthansa and its partner carriers Austrian Airlines and Swiss.

Ryanair said: “In accordance with current EASA [European Union Aviation Safety Agency] guidance and the resumption of operations by several other European carriers, including Lufthansa, Air France, Austrian, Swiss, Aegean, and LOT, Ryanair, will resume reduced operations to/from Tel Aviv from Thursday, 1 February. 

“Initially the airline will operate a reduced schedule, including flights to/from Karlsruhe/Baden Baden, Marseilles, Memmingen, Milan and Vienna.“

        

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