Back In the Sky: Major Airlines Resume & Expand Flights Into Israel

Air travel connectivity at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv is ramping up sharply as major global airlines announce return dates and Israeli carriers expand their routes.

Key Takeaway:

Major international carriers including United, Delta, and KLM have locked in explicit resumption schedules, while local airlines like El Al, Israir, and Arkia continue expanding.

1. U.S. Transatlantic Resumptions

After periods of operational pause, major U.S. carriers are restoring non-stop connections between North America and Tel Aviv:

• United Airlines: Resuming service on September 8 with two daily non-stop flights out of Newark Liberty (EWR) using Boeing 787 aircraft.
• Delta Air Lines: Scheduled to resume its daily service from New York (JFK) starting September 5.

2. European Hub Connections

European airlines are reopening core hubs to offer seamless flight options across Europe and transatlantic connections:

• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: Restarting flights from Amsterdam (AMS) on August 25, including an operational crew stopover in Larnaca, Cyprus.
• Lufthansa Group: SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Eurowings are actively running scheduled daily routes out of Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, and Düsseldorf.

3. Israeli Flag Carriers

Domestic airlines are expanding rapidly to maintain high capacity and serve regional holiday demand:

• El Al Israel Airlines: Running active non-stop schedules connecting Tel Aviv with New York (JFK/EWR), Miami, Los Angeles, Boston, and major European gateways.
• Israir & Arkia: Expanding direct routes to Mediterranean spots (Athens, Rome, Larnaca, Budapest) and introducing wide-body aircraft to increase seat capacity.

Flight Schedule Overview

Airline	Key Route	Resumption Date / Status
United Airlines	Newark (EWR) to Tel Aviv	Resuming Sept 8
Delta Air Lines	New York (JFK) to Tel Aviv	Resuming Sept 5
KLM	Amsterdam (AMS) to Tel Aviv	Resuming Aug 25
Lufthansa Group	Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna	Currently Operating
El Al	U.S., European & Asian Gateways	Fully Operational
Israir & Arkia	Athens, Rome, Budapest, Regional EU	Expanding Routes