Ryanair, the largest low-cost airline in Europe, announced on Monday (4) that it had to cancel almost 1,000 flights in November, attributing the disruptions to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The number of flight cancellations related to Gaza increased from 870 in October to 960 in November.
Despite this, the cancellations represented less than 1.5% of the total 66,400 flights operated by the company based in Dublin throughout the month, according to the British media.
The impact of the conflict on air travel extends beyond Ryanair, as international companies temporarily suspended flight operations to Israel following a terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7. Many carriers implemented ongoing suspension periods, with the majority not planning to resume flights to Tel Aviv until at least January 2024.
In response to the capacity vacuum created by the suspended flights, Israel’s national airline, El Al, attempted to compensate. However, El Al recently announced that it is currently in “emergency mode” and had to adjust schedules to meet new demands.
Israel’s tourism industry is feeling the effects, with a drop in advance bookings for future flights. However, El Al observed an increase in last-minute sales, suggesting that travelers, both locals and visitors, are adopting a wait-and-see approach due to the dynamic nature of the conflict.
November, traditionally a quieter month for travel, was an exception for Ryanair, which reported carrying 11.7 million passengers during the month. Notably, the airline maintained an average occupancy rate of 92%, showing resilience despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in the region.
