El Al workers' union omits Miri Regev from list of recommended candidates in primaries
The chairman of the El Al workers' union has distributed a list of candidates recommended for support in the Likud central committee elections, notably excluding Transportation Minister Miri Regev. The move follows a fierce struggle by Israeli airline employees against plans to establish a Wizz Air base in Israel.
The struggle surrounding the entry of Wizz Air into permanent operations in Israel is taking on a political dimension. The chairman of the El Al workers' union has distributed a list of candidates recommended for support in the Likud central committee elections, and the absence of Transportation Minister Miri Regev from this list is striking.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Regev's omission is not accidental. It occurs against the backdrop of concerns among El Al employees regarding the potential establishment of an operational base by the low-cost airline Wizz Air in Israel. Labor unions in the industry perceive this move as a threat to Israeli companies and the job security of their staff.
The confrontation surrounding Wizz Air has recently spilled far beyond professional discussions regarding competition and ticket prices. In February, the Histadrut declared an industry-wide labor dispute affecting more than 11,000 employees at El Al, Arkia, Israir, and Air Haifa, as well as the Israel Airports Authority. The Histadrut argued that establishing a base for a foreign company without coordination with employee representatives could jeopardize the stability of the sector.
Conversely, Regev has consistently maintained an opposing position, arguing that admitting a low-cost carrier to operate a base in Israel would increase competition, lower flight prices, and expand destination options. At the height of the dispute, she criticized Israeli airlines, claiming that the public had become their "captive customers."
In May, a turning point occurred when Regev ordered a halt to negotiations with Wizz Air after the company failed to resume flights to Israel at the time, and announced her intention to explore similar arrangements with another foreign carrier.
However, from the perspective of aviation industry workers, the possibility of a foreign airline establishing a base in Israel remains a major concern. This tension now appears to be reflected in the political arena: in the list of recommendations provided to El Al employees ahead of the Likud central committee elections, Regev—a prominent party figure holding the most influential portfolio for the aviation industry—was left off the list.
