Irish budget airline Ryanair is set to make its comeback to Israel next week after a hiatus of around three and a half months. In anticipation of this return, Ryanair has rolled out a promotional campaign offering extremely appealing fares for flights to Israel.
Highlights include one-way tickets priced at 33 euros to Paphos, 37 euros to Malta and 46 euros to Budapest, among others. This special offer is available for travel until June 30, with bookings open until Monday. Note that the prices listed are accurate at the time of publication but are subject to change without warning.
To gauge the cost of a round-trip ticket under this promotion, we checked Ryanair's website. For instance, a round-trip journey to Paphos departing on June 3 and returning on June 10 was priced at 32.79 euros from Tel Aviv to Cyprus and 43.30 euros for the return leg, totaling 76 euros ($82). This fare includes only a backpack that fits under the seat, with additional charges of 27.75 euros each way for a trolley suitcase and 44.24 euros each way for a checked suitcase.
We also found a basic round-trip ticket to Malta for travel from June 20-27, priced at 73.84 euros ($80). Continuing our search, we discovered a flight to Bucharest on June 4 for 40 euros and a return flight to Tel Aviv on June 8 for 68 euros, making the total cost 108 euros ($117).
On Monday, Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport will reopen for domestic flights, with international low-cost flights resuming next Sunday, June 2. Terminal 1 was closed more than seven months ago due to the war and a significant drop in passenger numbers. The airlines expected to operate from Terminal 1 include El Al, Arkia, Israir, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Transavia France and Georgian Airways.
The Israel Airports Authority advises passengers to check their flight details in advance, as some airlines will operate from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. According to the Airports Authority, approximately 1.4 million passengers are expected to pass through Ben Gurion Airport on international flights in June.
Over the coming months, around 1,200 flights will depart from Terminal 1, with about 200,000 passengers passing through it each month. During peak days in July and August, Terminal 1 is expected to handle between 6,500 and 7,000 passengers daily.