The low-cost airline Ryanair has reported the cancellation of more than 960 flights last month due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In October, 870 flights were also suspended directly as a consequence of the conflict in the region.
Ryanair revealed that it operated over 66,400 flights in November, despite the Gaza war, showing a 4% increase in the number of passengers, totaling 11.7 million.
Airlines have suspended flights to Tel Aviv and neighboring Jordan since October 7, marking the beginning of the war. EasyJet, a competitor of Ryanair, declared last week that the conflict and the threat to stability in the Middle East have also impacted demand, especially to destinations like Egypt. Furthermore, it noted a general impact on bookings due to the war.
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EasyJet warned that it does not anticipate reducing losses in the first quarter of the upcoming financial year due to the uncertainty caused by the conflict’s impact on demand. However, the airline mentioned that bookings have started to recover in recent weeks.
The Hungarian airline Wizz Air also announced the continued suspension of operations in Israel until early January. The company stated that it «continues to monitor the situation and is ready to reallocate capacity if conditions stabilize.»
Wizz Air transported 29.3% more passengers in November, totaling 4.8 million. The airline also resumed flights to Chisinau, Moldova, following their suspension in March due to tensions related to Russia’s war with Ukraine. This decision followed a comprehensive evaluation of safety factors. Also, the group intends to gradually reinforce its presence there. This includes reopening its base in Chisinau, while ensuring safe and secure operations for its crew and passengers.
