Israel: airline crisis, -75% passengers at Ben Gurion due to conflict

Industry sources warn that 2026 will likely be a year with few flights but very high demand could lead to a new price increase. After the 12-day war with Iran in June 2025, the Israeli newspaper highlights, the sector was able to recover more quickly thanks to the ceasefire: in July 2025 passengers had doubled compared to the previous month, reaching 1.67 million and in August they had risen to 2.2 million. This time, however, “there is a stalemate” that risks continuing. “Around 20 airlines are expected to resume flights to Israel in May, including Air France, KLM, Smartwings and Iberia. However, some have postponed their plans, among them Wizz Air which was supposed to resume flights on April 25 but postponed to May 4 and then to May 12. Lufthansa Group companies – including Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings – have set the resumption of flights for June 1, but with possible further cancellations depending on the security situation.” As for North America, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada have already announced that they will not return until September. “Some companies, such as easyJet, have not yet set a return date, while others, such as Ryanair, have cut Israel from their destinations”, writes Haaretz again.

Sector officials, the newspaper underlines, estimate that losses for the Israel Airports Authority this year could amount to 600–700 million shekels ($200–240 million). For airlines, losses are estimated in tens of millions of dollars, as bookings have declined as early as early 2026 over fears of war with Iran.”