United Airlines is resuming flights to Israel earlier than expected and will restart its New York–Tel Aviv route on July 22. The U.S. carrier had previously suspended flights through the end of July following Israeli air strikes in Iran, but it has now moved up its return. United will initially operate two daily flights, competing with Israeli carriers El Al and Arkia.
Tickets for round-trip flights between July 23 and July 30 are available on the company’s website starting at $1,241.
Last night, about two weeks after the end of the war in Iran, Israel’s Ministry of Transportation announced that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had lifted all restrictions on flights to Israel.
The decision came after several major countries lifted travel warnings over the past week. The U.S. lowered its travel warning from Level 4 to Level 3, and the UK Foreign Office removed its warning and marked Israel green, restoring the status quo from before the Iran conflict.
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The practical outcome is that European airlines are set to resume service to Ben Gurion Airport, with Wizz Air expected to be the first to act. Air France has already restarted flights, with a new inaugural flight landing in Israel on Monday.
Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport is scheduled to reopen on August 1, enabling budget airlines to gradually resume full operations.
Airlines that have resumed flights to Israel:
- Flydubai
- Etihad Airways
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Bluebird Airways
- Hainan Airlines
- Tus Airways
- Azerbaijan Airlines
- Red Wings
- FlyOne
Airlines planning to return:
- Air Europa – July 14
- LOT Polish Airlines – July 14
- Air Seychelles – August 1
- Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings) – Gradually starting August 1
Airlines still suspended:
- Air India – through August 31
- ITA Airways – through July 31
- Delta Air Lines – through August 31
- British Airways – through October 25
- Air Canada – no scheduled return
- easyJet – through October 25
- Ryanair – through October 25
- Bulgaria Air – through July 20
- airBaltic – through September 30
- Aegean Airlines – through September 8
- Iberia & Iberia Express – through October 25