Minister Regev with Wizz Air President Minister of Transport Miri Regev held a joint press conference today (Thursday, November 27) with Wizz Air President Jozsef Varadi, who is visiting Israel, to advance discussions on establishing the company's operational base in the country.
During the dramatic conference, Varadi stated that they intend to begin operations as early as April 2026. Regev presented a firm stance in favor of increasing competition in the aviation industry and reducing the cost of living, while committing to maintaining the strength of Israeli airlines and their employees.
Regev opened with sharp remarks regarding the aviation market situation and the cost of living in Israel: "The State of Israel is dealing with the cost of living, and we are working on all channels to reduce the cost of living, especially in transportation, including aviation," she said.
The minister mentioned the "Open Skies" reform as an example of a move in which Israel opened the market, created competition, lowered prices, and simultaneously maintained the strength of Israeli companies. "The way to lower prices is through competition and creativity," she emphasized. "That's what we did in the Open Skies reform that proved itself, it kept the Israeli companies, lowered prices, and added destinations for the Israeli public."
Nevertheless, Regev criticized the behavior of Israeli companies regarding ticket prices during wartime and said, "I greatly respect and appreciate the Israeli companies, which have acted in difficult times and provided solutions to the citizens of Israel and security interests. But it is no secret that the Israeli airlines raised prices in the hard moments of Israeli society, and this is a reality that cannot be accepted."
According to her, "We are committed to lowering prices, increasing the number of seats, and improving passenger service."
Regev also addressed the concerns expressed by worker unions and the Histadrut regarding the possibility of Wizz Air establishing a base in Israel: "I am aware of the concerns of the worker unions," she said. "We have already met several times with the Histadrut, worker unions, and CEOs of Israeli companies. I promised that we would increase competition on one hand, and on the other hand, do everything to maintain the Israeli companies and the workers."
According to her, the move with Wizz Air is not at the expense of local companies but is supposed to create a competitive, balanced, and solid market: "Israel is a country that believes in a free economy and competition. Today we are taking another step towards a more accessible and affordable aviation market, but we will not allow harm to the resilience of Israeli companies and the livelihood of thousands of workers."
Photo: ShutterstockOne of the central issues that arose in the meeting with Varadi and his team was reviving Ramon Airport in the south.
"We have a great interest in making Ramon a vibrant and active airport that will provide a solution for Israeli citizens living in the south," Regev said. "During the meeting, various issues were raised around promoting the establishment of the base, including renewals and increased activities at Ben Gurion and Ramon airports. I believe we can find a solution for this in the future."
The minister noted that it was agreed that professional teams from the Ministry of Transport and Wizz Air would continue to work to bridge regulatory gaps and that, toward the end of January, another meeting is planned to finalize details, with the intention of promoting the establishment of Wizz Air's operational base in Israel as soon as possible.
Regev used the press conference stage to also thank the Hungarian company for its commitment to the local market
"I want to thank the CEO of Wizz Air and his team for their trust in the Israeli market. This is not a given at this time," she said.
She extended her thanks to the Ministry of Transport team and the professionals who led the move: "I thank the Ministry of Transport team, the ministry's CEO, the Airports Authority, and all the professional teams. This move will strengthen the aviation market in Israel, suit the passengers' needs, and encourage companies to operate competitively and fairly."
After Regev spoke, Wizz Air President Joseph Varadi, whose remarks were translated into Hebrew, praised the cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and the potential of the Israeli market: "Israel is an important and dynamic market. We see the country as a strategic partner and want to invest here for the long term," he said.
Varadi emphasized that expanding Wizz Air's operations in Israel could significantly contribute to the local economy: "The aviation sector can create jobs, strengthen the economy, and make flights more accessible to the general public. We want to be part of this change, more seats, competitive prices, and efficient service."
He said the company is committed to working jointly with the Israeli authorities: "We greatly appreciate the dialogue with the Ministry of Transport and professionals. We will continue to work together to meet regulatory requirements and build a framework that will allow a stable and strong operational base in Israel."
If the discussions mature into establishing Wizz Air's operational base in Israel, it will be one of the significant moves in recent years in the local aviation market, closely watched by Israeli companies, the Histadrut, and, of course, the public.