Ryanair eyes expansion into Israel

The low cost airline claims it could serve 40 routes from Israel and fly 2.2 million passengers a year
 
European low-cost airline Ryanair, which operates 516 routes from 26 cities in 23 countries across Europe and considered the largest airline flying within the continent, is understood to be examining options to operate regular passenger flights to Israel from Scandinavia, Germany, Italy and center of Europe.
 
The carrier has recently claimed it could service 40 routes from Israel and fly 2.2 million passengers a year to and from the country. It reckons its business would provide a €480 million-a-year boost to the Israeli economy.
 
Benny Berger, Director, New Business Development at Ryanair Holdings Plc, was in Israel for the third time last week and met with Israel Airports Authority heads, senior officials at the Tourism and Transportation Ministries, as well as with representatives of the ground handling companies that operate in Israel.
 
Ryanair's entry to the local aviation market is conditioned upon Israel's signing of the European Aviation Agreement, a matter that is currently handled by the Transportation Ministry.
 
Such an agreement would basically allow Ryanair to fly to and from Israel to any country in Europe and operate flights within Israel. More so, it would give the company full freedom in setting up its flight schedule.
 
Israel's Civil Aviation authorities are worried that the national carrier El Al would take a beating. Ryanair has suggested it could accept a three years agreement guaranteeing it won’t fly to the same European airports as El Al.
 
The airline is understood to be pushing Israel's government to sign an open skies aviation agreement with the European Union. Israel has already agreed in principle to a deal but has been delaying a final decision over concerns about its impact on local air carriers, notably El Al Israel Airlines.