Delta and United will restart flights to Tel Aviv this week

By Plan It Let's Go Jun 21, 20240

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are set to return to Israel this week.

Both airlines pulled out of Tel Aviv in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. United returned to the market briefly earlier this year, but it stopped flights again after an escalation between Israel and Iran in April.

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Following these suspensions, Israel’s flag carrier, El Al, remained the only airline serving the U.S.-to-Tel Aviv market.

However, that’s all about to change this weekend, with both Delta and United confirming that they are returning to Israel.

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Here’s the latest on when airlines are returning to Israel.

Delta Air Lines Israel flights

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Delta’s daily route from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) is set to resume June 7.

The airline will deploy an Airbus A330-900neo, which features 29 Delta One suites, 28 Premium Select recliners, 56 Comfort+ economy seats and 168 standard economy seats, on its daily New York-to-Tel Aviv service.

Delta originally planned to resume Israel flights May 1 but moved the date to about five weeks later, at the start of the peak summer season.

The airline said that it conducted an “extensive security risk assessment” to support its decision to return to Tel Aviv and will work with “government and private-sector partners” to monitor the developing situation in the country.

In recent years, Delta has been busy building its Israel network with new flights from Atlanta and Boston, joining the airline’s existing service from New York.

Flights to Israel from Atlanta and Boston currently aren’t available on Delta’s website, and there’s no published resumption date.

In addition to Delta’s flights, the airline also recently strengthened its presence in Israel through a codeshare agreement with El Al. The carrier currently flies to several U.S. markets, including New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

United Airlines Israel flights

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United will make its second return to Israel since the war broke out in October; its flights will resume June 6.

The airline’s Flight 84 and Flight 85 — the early afternoon departure from Newark and the day flight from Tel Aviv — are the first to resume on Thursday. The carrier is then scheduled to add Flight 90 and Flight 91 — the evening departure from Newark and the red-eye flight from Tel Aviv — on Thursday, June 20.

United first resumed flights 84 and 85 in early March but suspended them once again in April following the Iranian strike. Now, the airline is seemingly ready to match Delta’s resumption date.

United plans to restart service from Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., to Israel in late October.

These flights are already available for booking on United’s website, but the carrier will “continue to monitor the situation in Tel Aviv and adjust the schedule as warranted.”

American Airlines Israel flights

American Airlines has just one Israel route left from New York to Tel Aviv. (The carrier scrapped its service from Miami entirely early last year.)

American closed its Tel Aviv outstation after the outbreak of the war, and it doesn’t plan to resume flights until the fall.

The airline’s Tel Aviv flights are currently scheduled to resume Oct. 27. American shared in a statement that “the safety and security of our customers and team members remain our highest priorities.”