Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air announced on 23 June that it would suspend all flights to the Middle East, but due to unexpectedly improved regional conditions, the airline has decided to restart a popular route from Budapest ahead of schedule on 8 August, instead of 15 September. Adding to the good news, a German airline has also revealed plans to expand its network to include Budapest, creating more travel opportunities for both Hungarian passengers and incoming tourists.

Wizz Air among the first to return to Israel

Wizz Air has announced it will resume flights from Budapest to Tel Aviv starting 8 Augus, thanks to significant improvements in the Middle Eastern situation. In addition to Budapest, flights will also resume to the Israeli capital from nine other destinations across seven countries: Larnaca, Milan, Rome, London, Vienna, Bucharest, Iași, Sofia, and Abu Dhabi. Other Tel Aviv routes will resume on the originally scheduled date of 15 September.

“We’re back — and we’re back with a purpose,” declared Olívia Harangozó, Corporate Communications Manager at Wizz Air. “Our early return to Tel Aviv demonstrates our commitment to our loyal Israeli passengers and to keeping the world connected.” – said András Radó, Head of Communications at Wizz Air. According to Turizmus Online, with this reinstated route, Wizz Air becomes the largest European airline operating at Ben Gurion Airport, in terms of available capacity outside Israel. Flights between Budapest and Tel Aviv are scheduled to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

• Travellers take note: Major traffic congestion expected near Budapest Airport soon

No flights to the United Arab Emirates

According to AIRportal.hu, Wizz Air currently operates more than 830 routes to 190 destinations in 51 countries. The airline aims to carry 75 million passengers this year, despite facing various challenges, which are detailed further in this article.

On 3 July, the carrier, often referred to as Hungary’s unofficial national airline, decided to suspend all flights to the United Arab Emirates due to the Israeli-Iranian conflict. There’s currently no word on when those routes might resume.

German budget airline comes to Budapest

In other welcome news, German-owned budget airline Condor has started selling tickets for its newly announced route to Budapest. The inaugural flight is scheduled for next May and will link the Hungarian capital with Frankfurt, one of Europe’s key aviation hubs. Passengers will be served by Airbus A320 aircraft. According to a Budflyer post, the Condor service will boost weekly seat capacity between Budapest and Frankfurt to over 10,000, as Lufthansa also operates on the route.

• Budapest Airport shuttle to commute more frequently

“We’re excited to welcome Condor to our growing family of airline partners. The new Frankfurt route not only expands options and flight frequency but also supports stronger business and tourism ties between Hungary and Germany,” said Markus Klaushofer, Deputy CEO for Commercial at Budapest Airport. “Condor’s entry into the Hungarian market and its new service to Frankfurt—Europe’s key transit hub—reflects the airline’s strong confidence in Liszt Ferenc International Airport as a major regional gateway.”

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