Delta joins United in officially resuming Tel Aviv flights
Delta Air Lines is set to become the second U.S. carrier to restart service to Israel.
The Atlanta-based carrier announced late Wednesday that it would reopen its outstation at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) on June 7, 2024.
Delta (and its major U.S. rivals American and United) suspended flights to Tel Aviv in the fall in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent war.
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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.
Then, after a nearly six-month pause, United jets started flying again to Tel Aviv in early March, albeit on only one of the airline’s four Israel routes.
Now, Delta is returning to Israel, also on just one of its three Israel routes. As for American, the carrier still hasn’t announced concrete resumption plans.
Here’s the latest on when airlines are returning to Israel.
Delta Air Lines Israel flights
Delta’s daily route from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to TLV is set to resume June 7.
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The airline will deploy an Airbus A330-900neo, featuring 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.
Originally, Delta planned to resume Israel flights on May 1, but that date was moved about five weeks later to the start of the peak summer tourist season. Delta seemingly believes that there will be enough demand this summer to warrant flying its daily flight once again.
The airline said that it conducted an “extensive security risk assessment” to support its decision to return to Tel Aviv, and it 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 from Atlanta and Boston aren’t currently 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, which currently flies to several U.S. markets, including New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
United Airlines Israel flights
United already resumed one of its two daily frequencies to Tel Aviv from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) as of March 2.
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.
“United conducted a detailed safety analysis in making this decision, including close work with security experts and government officials in the United States and Israel. We also worked closely with the Air Line Pilots Association and the Association of Flight Attendants to develop the protocols to ensure they are safe and well-informed,” the airline said in a statement about the resumed service.
United plans to restart its second daily Newark-to-Tel Aviv flight on May 3, followed by service from Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., in late October.
The resumed flights are already available for booking on United’s website, but just note that 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’s service from Miami was scrapped 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 on Oct. 27. American shared in a statement that “the safety and security of our customers and team members remain our highest priorities.”
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