United and Delta Airlines will not resume flights to Israel until next month due to the ongoing security tensions in the Mideast.
The decision by the two U.S. legacy carriers, which comes amid concern over a looming Iranian attack on the Jewish state, leaves Israel’s flagship carrier El Al as the only airline offering direct service to and from the United States through the duration of the summer.
Both U.S. airlines had just resumed service to Israel this spring after suspending flights, like most other carriers, following Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre.
American Airlines has not restarted flights to Tel Aviv since the war broke out.
Delta is rebooking passengers to Tel Aviv on El Al and Air France, with which it is a codeshare partner. United is only rerouting passengers on its own flights to other countries in the region, including Greece and the United Arab Emirates.
Many foreign airlines, including Lufthansa, Austrian, Iberia and Brussels Airlines, suspended service to Israel anew last week amid escalating regional tensions following the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut and Hamas leader in Tehran.
Some, including British Airways and Air France, continue to operate flights to the Jewish state. Budget carrier Wizz is resuming service, while RyanAir has also canceled flights.
El Al is increasing flights from Greece and Cyprus for Israelis stranded abroad. JNS