Europe's Largest Airline Considers Fleeing Israeli Skies

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Security and economic tensions in the Zionist regime are now impacting its aviation industry. Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost airline, has announced that it may permanently suspend its flights to Israel due to security concerns and financial disputes with Ben Gurion Airport.

Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, stated during the company's annual general meeting in Dublin, "We may not return to Israel unless the authorities manage the conditions. Our growth opportunities in Europe are far greater." These remarks were made after the airline had already canceled flights to the Zionist regime due to security concerns.

According to Mahdi Bagheri, a transportation and transit expert, Tel Aviv's main exports are technology products, which are transported by air. In addition to passenger transport, this would deal a significant blow to the country's foreign trade.

The primary dispute between Ryanair and Ben Gurion Airport revolves around terminal usage costs. While low-cost airlines typically use cheaper terminals, the dedicated terminal in Tel Aviv has been closed due to security concerns, forcing the company to incur significantly higher costs for using the main terminal.

Alongside the security challenges arising from the Gaza war, this issue has placed additional pressure on the tourism and aviation sectors of the Zionist regime.

The potential exit of Ryanair would not only make it more difficult for European passengers to access the country but also signal a lack of confidence from major international companies in the economic and security prospects of the Zionists.

However, Ryanair has announced that it will resume flights to Jordan in the coming weeks, a move indicating that the airline is quickly prioritizing alternative routes in the region.

Ben Gurion Airport, which previously handled over 35,000 passengers and approximately 300 flights daily, is now experiencing a sharp decline in air traffic. In the month before the Al-Aqsa Storm (September 2023), 2.3 million passengers passed through the airport.

In contrast, by May 2025, passenger numbers had dropped by 35%, to around 1.5 million.

Statistics show that Ben Gurion Airport's annual revenue, which was approximately $2 billion, is now at serious risk. Security threats, particularly from resistance groups, have endangered the airport and severely limited its operations.