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US aviation links with Israel are entering a new phase of recovery as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines move to restore key nonstop routes to Tel Aviv, signaling renewed confidence in demand and operational safety after nearly two years of disrupted schedules.
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Major US Carriers Rebuild Tel Aviv Networks
After an extended period of suspensions and schedule volatility following the October 2023 Hamas attacks and ensuing war in Gaza, US carriers are beginning to re-establish regular service to Israel. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are at the center of this reset, positioning new and returning flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport as demand rebounds and risk assessments evolve.
Delta has announced the restart of its flagship New York John F. Kennedy–Tel Aviv route. According to the airline’s news hub, daily nonstop flights from JFK to Tel Aviv are scheduled to resume on September 6, 2026, following a pause that dates back to October 2023. The service will operate into Ben Gurion the following morning, restoring one of the most important US–Israel corridors for both business and leisure travelers.
United, which has repeatedly adjusted its Israel schedule since first suspending flights in October 2023, has already moved ahead with a staged return. Publicly available information shows that United restarted New York/Newark–Tel Aviv flights in phases beginning in 2024, with early services routed via Munich before resuming nonstop operations as conditions allowed. Subsequent updates in 2025 highlighted the expansion of Tel Aviv service from Newark and plans to reconnect additional US hubs as the market stabilized.
The gradual restoration by both carriers marks a significant shift from the period when Israel’s long-haul network leaned heavily on El Al and other foreign airlines, while US majors stayed on the sidelines amid heightened security concerns and fluctuating airspace restrictions.
From Suspensions to Careful Returns
When hostilities escalated in October 2023, US carriers rapidly halted their Israel operations. United was among the first to suspend its multiple daily Newark–Tel Aviv flights, later extending cancellations several times as security teams reassessed risks related to missile activity and regional airspace. Media reports in early 2024 described rolling cancellations that pushed the pause into May while the airline completed its safety evaluation and considered routings that could support a cautious resumption.
United’s initial return to the market came with a hybrid approach. Company materials and aviation coverage indicate that some of the first Newark–Tel Aviv rotations in March 2024 and 2025 were operated with a stop in Munich. This allowed the carrier to stage aircraft and crews as it prepared to re-launch full nonstop operations, a tactic that reflected the operational complexity of flying into a conflict-adjacent region even as demand remained strong.
Delta followed a similar path of extended suspension followed by a structured comeback. The airline halted its New York–Tel Aviv flights in October 2023 and maintained the pause through 2024 and 2025 while it conducted repeated security and operational reviews. Its latest announcement, detailing a September 6, 2026 restart of daily nonstop JFK–Tel Aviv service, points to an extended period of planning before committing capacity back into the market.
The path to restoration has not been linear. At various points since late 2023, United postponed planned restart dates or scaled back early schedules in response to changing risk assessments, while Delta repeatedly pushed its own target dates into later seasons. The new round of resumptions underscores how dynamic the situation has been, as airlines balanced safety, geopolitical uncertainty, and persistent passenger demand.
Capacity, Competition and Fares on the Tel Aviv Corridor
The return of Delta and United to Tel Aviv is poised to reshape competition on some of Israel’s most lucrative long-haul routes. During much of 2024 and early 2025, Israeli carrier El Al and a small group of European and Gulf airlines captured a disproportionate share of US–Israel traffic. Congressional correspondence and media analysis noted that El Al enjoyed an effective monopoly on nonstop New York–Tel Aviv service, and that fares on peak-season itineraries surged well above typical pre-war levels.
United’s rebuilding of its Tel Aviv network has already introduced more US capacity back into the market. Company disclosures and industry newsletters highlight that by late 2025 United was once again operating twice-daily flights between Newark and Tel Aviv and preparing to add new service from Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles. Those additions, scheduled for early November 2025, positioned the airline as the largest US carrier in the Israel market by available seat capacity.
Delta’s return from JFK in September 2026 is expected to add another set of daily widebody frequencies from the New York area, directly challenging both United’s Newark hub and El Al’s established presence. The carrier has indicated that it will deploy long-haul aircraft configured with premium cabins and high-density economy seating, targeting a mix of corporate contracts, VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic and growing leisure demand.
Industry analysts cited in financial and aviation reports suggest that the combined capacity from El Al, Delta, United and connecting carriers could gradually ease the extreme fare pressures seen in the immediate aftermath of the conflict. However, they also note that lingering security risk and higher insurance and operating costs may keep average ticket prices on US–Israel routes above pre-2023 norms for some time.
Travel Demand Recovers Amid Ongoing Security Advisories
The aviation recovery around Tel Aviv is unfolding against a backdrop of continued security warnings. The latest US State Department guidance for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza maintains elevated advisory levels, citing the potential for rocket fire, terrorism and sudden escalations in regional tensions. The guidance also acknowledges that airlines may cancel or curtail flights to Israel at short notice in response to changing conditions.
Despite those cautions, traffic figures from Ben Gurion International Airport and Israel Airports Authority updates for 2024 and 2025 show a progressive rebound in passenger numbers as more airlines restore service. Published data for the nine months through late 2025 indicated double-digit growth in passenger throughput versus the previous year, underscoring the strength of pent-up demand for both inbound tourism and outbound travel by Israeli residents.
US carriers’ return feeds into that recovery cycle. By reinstating nonstop connections from large hubs such as New York/Newark and New York JFK, Delta and United enable more seamless access for corporate travelers, tour groups, and diaspora passengers who previously relied on one-stop itineraries via Europe or the Gulf. Their schedules also expand belly cargo capacity, a critical link for high-value exports, pharmaceuticals and technology shipments between Israel and North America.
Travelers, however, continue to face a more volatile operating environment than before October 2023. Industry reports emphasize that schedules remain subject to change, with airlines maintaining contingency plans and flexible rebooking policies in case of renewed disruptions. Prospective passengers are frequently advised in public information campaigns to monitor airline notifications, consult government travel advisories, and consider travel insurance products that cover geopolitical events.
What the Tel Aviv Comeback Signals for US Aviation
The decision by Delta and United to restore key Israel routes carries wider implications for how US airlines approach conflict-affected markets. Their Tel Aviv strategies reflect a move toward more adaptable scheduling, route diversification and close coordination with international partners to manage operational risk while still pursuing profitable demand.
For US aviation more broadly, the Tel Aviv comeback underscores the sector’s capacity to rebound from geopolitical shocks. After the steep drop-off in Israel-bound traffic and the withdrawal of multiple US carriers, the reintroduction of daily long-haul services demonstrates renewed appetite for international expansion, particularly on routes with deep business and diaspora ties.
Industry observers point out that experiences gained in managing Israel operations since 2023 may influence how US airlines handle future crises, from airspace closures to localized conflicts. A mix of temporary routings, gradual capacity build-up, and rapid schedule adjustments has become a defining feature of their response playbook.
For travelers, the return of familiar US airline brands on Israel routes represents both expanded choice and a reminder that conditions can evolve quickly. While Delta and United’s restored Tel Aviv networks mark a significant milestone in the recovery of transatlantic and Middle East connectivity, the sustainability of this revival will ultimately depend on the security environment and the enduring strength of demand between the United States and Israel.
Delta Air Lines – New York–Tel Aviv service update
United Airlines – Newark–Tel Aviv service information
US State Department – Israel, West Bank and Gaza travel information