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TEL AVIV — May 31, 2025 — United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are set to resume direct flights to Israel, marking a cautious return of American carriers to the region after months of suspended service due to heightened security concerns.
The announcements come amid ongoing reluctance from several European airlines to restart operations at Ben Gurion Airport. United Airlines revealed on Saturday that it will resume flights to Israel starting Thursday, June 5.
The first flight will depart from Newark Liberty International Airport and land in Tel Aviv. From Friday, June 6, United plans to operate two daily flights on the Newark–Tel Aviv route.
Delta Air Lines, meanwhile, is also restarting its daily direct flights between John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Tel Aviv.
The carrier had temporarily suspended the route due to instability in the region, particularly following a missile strike attributed to the Houthi rebels at Ben Gurion Airport.
Both U.S. airlines are among a small group of international carriers that have opted to resume service to Israel in recent weeks. Their return signals a tentative boost to Israel’s international connectivity and could encourage other global carriers to reassess their positions.
However, the skies over Israel remain far from crowded. Several major European airlines continue to avoid Israeli airspace or delay reinstating services.
Among them are Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, and easyJet, all of which have yet to announce return dates for flights to Tel Aviv.
Budget airline Ryanair, one of Europe’s largest low-cost carriers, announced Wednesday that it had been “forced to cancel flights” to Israel until at least early August.
The company cited reasons “beyond our control,” but did not provide specifics. The continued cancellations from European carriers have raised questions domestically about the Israeli government’s role in restoring international airline confidence.
Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition in the Knesset, criticized the government’s handling of the situation.
“These cancellations could have been prevented if the government had worked in an orderly manner and offered airlines insurance reimbursement,” Lapid said, noting that similar mechanisms were employed during past crises to keep Israel connected to the world.
The gradual return of airlines comes amid ongoing tensions and security risks, which have led many carriers to reevaluate safety conditions on a regular basis.
While U.S. carriers have taken the step to resume operations, their European counterparts remain hesitant, highlighting a divided global aviation response to the region’s volatility.
For now, United and Delta’s renewed service offers a crucial lifeline for travel and business ties between the U.S. and Israel.
Still, the wider recovery of Israel’s international air links will depend heavily on the evolving security landscape and the government’s ability to provide assurances to the global aviation industry.