Chicago-based United Airlines has announced that it intends to recommence services between the US and Israel following the ceasefire deals reached in recent months covering Gaza and Lebanon. The US carrier revealed in a statement issued on February 4, 2025, that it will recommence its services from New York-Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) on March 15, 2025, with a daily service using its 21-strong fleet of Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners.
The carrier plans to launch a second daily flight between the two cities from March 29, 2025, also using 787-10s. These aircraft accommodate 318 passengers in a three-class layout. United canceled all further flights to Israel in August 2024 following the escalation in hostilities between the Israeli Government and militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah in the region.
According to a United statement, “This resumption follows a detailed assessment of operational considerations for the region and close work with the unions who represent our flight attendants and pilots. United also offers connections to Tel Aviv through its partners including Lufthansa Group airlines. United will continue to evaluate opportunities to restore additional flights based on demand.”
Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was finalized in January 2025, airlines have been rushing to relaunch services between the US and Israel – routes have traditionally been highly lucrative for carriers that offer services on them. As recently as January 24, 2025, fellow US airline Delta Air Lines announced its own resumption of services between the US and Israel. The carrier will restart daily nonstop services to Tel Aviv (TLV) from New York-JFK (JFK) on April 1, 2025, using its fleet of Airbus A330-900neo aircraft and providing nearly 2,000 weekly seats on the route.
Additionally, Delta will bolster its presence in Israel through a newly signed codeshare agreement with EL AL Israel Airlines. This partnership will enable Delta customers to book EL AL’s nonstop flights to Tel Aviv from major US cities including New York-JFK, Newark, Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), and Fort Lauderdale (FLL).
With this sudden resurgence in scheduled passenger services between the US and Israel, the wider industry will be keenly watching the next steps for another proposed new service between the countries being offered by Arkia Israeli Airlines. The company, Israel’s second-largest airline, announced in January 2025 that it will commence a new direct service between Tel Aviv and New York-JFK beginning on February 9, 2024.
This new service is being launched in collaboration with TechAir, a not-for-profit technology startup company. TechAir is a forum for Israeli entrepreneurs, business investors, startup founders, venture capitalists, and other fund managers who all share a need to have regular face-to-face meetings with clients in the US.
The new venture will operate three times per week between Tel-Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) and New York-JFK Airport (JFK) using a leased Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. The source of the aircraft is reported to be Spanish-Portuguese charter airline Iberojet, which currently operates two A330-900neos each seating 371 passengers.
Flights will depart Tel Aviv on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and will run initially until at least May 2025. However, with United and Delta back on the route by this stage, time will tell whether Arkia’s service will continue after that point.
