The return of prominent European airlines such as Lufthansa Group, Air France, British Airways, and easyJet to Israel has raised the chances that US-based carriers will follow suit and resume flights to Israel.
A source familiar with the matter has informed Globes that Delta Airlines has confirmed that it will restart daily nonstop service to Tel Aviv from New York-JFK on April 1, utilizing its Airbus A330-900neo to provide nearly 2,000 weekly seats to customers. This announcement has increased confidence that US airlines will resume service to Israel following the return of major European carriers.
While Delta flights from Tel Aviv to New York in April have been available for booking for a while, many consumers remain hesitant, as the airline has not yet officially set a date for resuming flights, a typical procedure for airlines restarting service at Ben Gurion airport.
The tourist industry is hopeful that Delta will indeed return to Israel as planned in April, especially after several international airlines have confirmed their return, and with political pressure mounting in the US. Senator Ted Cruz has weighed in on the issue, asserting that US airlines will likely resume flights to Israel within 30 days. In a Washington, D.C. interview, Cruz expressed his view that the flight suspension is politically motivated rather than based on safety concerns, citing labor unions—particularly the flight attendants’ union—as having anti-Israel positions. Cruz, who will chair the Senate Commerce Committee, said he is in a position to take significant action to restore flights and is confident the matter will be resolved by the end of February.
Before the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, Delta operated seven weekly flights between New York and Tel Aviv, seven weekly flights between Atlanta and Tel Aviv, and three weekly flights between Boston and Tel Aviv. In May 2024, Delta had planned to resume its New York-Tel Aviv flights for three months, but those flights were canceled in August due to the escalation in the north, and the airline has continued to extend its suspension since then.
Delta is not the only US airline affected by the war. United Airlines suspended its Israel flights in October 2023 but plans to return for several months in 2024. American Airlines has not resumed flights since October 2023. Only Delta has provided a specific date for its suspension, while United and American have canceled flights indefinitely. Before the war, the three US airlines together operated 55 weekly flights between Tel Aviv and various US cities.
In addition to its return to Tel Aviv, Delta has also strengthened its presence in Israel through a new codeshare agreement with EL AL Israel Airlines. This partnership allows Delta customers to book EL AL’s nonstop flights to Tel Aviv from major U.S. cities, including New York-JFK, Newark, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale.
Despite the return of Delta, airfare prices have not dropped. A check of random dates in April by Globes showed that Delta’s return tickets were still more expensive than those of El Al. For example, a round-trip ticket on April 2 from New York to Tel Aviv, returning on April 17, costs $1,943 on Delta, $1,290 on El Al, and $2,098 on Arkia. A return ticket on April 7 from New York to Tel Aviv, returning on April 17, costs $1,833 on Delta, $1,365 on El Al, and $2,048 on Arkia. A round-trip ticket on April 10 from New York to Tel Aviv, returning on April 20, costs $2,278 on Delta, $1,290 on El Al, and $2,398 on Arkia.
{Matzav.com}