United Airlines, like all other U.S. airlines, suspended service after the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel. In fact, most of the world’s airlines stopped flying to Israel while El Al continued service with little interruption.
Now United has announced its plan to return.
- They will fly Newark – Tel Aviv via Munich on March 2 and March 4 “to ensure all service providers are ready to support non-stop service to and from Newark.”
- There won’t be any March 3 or March 5 flights.
- Daily non-stop service resumes March 6.
The airline says it “conducted a detailed safety analysis in making this decision” and “worked closely with the Air Line Pilots Association and the Association of Flight Attendants to develop the protocols” they’ll follow in order to get the unions on board.
Delta Air Lines Tel Aviv service is currently suspended through March 29, 2024. American Airlines has suspended service through October 28th, but that should be seen as borrowing the aircraft to fund an additional Europe flight for the summer season.
Israel’s GDP declined by 19.4% (annualized) in the fourth quarter, as 300,000 reservists were pulled out of the private sector to serve in the military, while government spending skyrocketed not just for military efforts but also to provide housing for 120,000 Israelis evacuated from border areas. Restrictions on Palestinian workers from the West Bank has also caused labor shortages in construction. Imports fell 42%. The return of United’s cargo capacity, and that of other airlines, will help.
Delta has also filed plans to return on May 1. KLM is also intends to return.
This is excellent news for the economies of both wonderful nations. I suspect that United learned from Lufthansa who is already up and ruling again to Tel Aviv the minimal safety risk that the flight requires.
Remember, EWR to TLV is one of United’s most important routes. During COVID, United only operated 6 hong laul routes at the peak and this was one of the routes (in addition to London, SFO to Tokyo)
I think AA will get back into the game once Vasu the visionary is done using that wide body for the lucrative regional route he has it pegged for now.
@sharon, you got it wrong with the LH Group, they into TLV and the crew doesnt remain overnight they fly back to FRA,MUC,BRU,VIE,ZRH
BA is stopping in LCA for a crew change and then the crew flying into TLV flys back to LHR.
The US carriers would have to stop in Europe I believe both ways in order to have legal working crews. So till they knew it would safe to overnight their crews once again in TLV they couldnt fly in
Great news!
Excellent news!
Hopefully the SFO—TLV will also return.
The good news is you’ll soon be able to book all the award tickets you want to TLV with AA, it’s just that they will ALL go through LHR on BA metal with huge YQ’s attached. So in other words back to normal for AA at some point.