With the three major U.S. airlines — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines — still absent from the Israeli market at least through September, Etihad Airways resumed operations at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday and announced it will offer onward flights to the United States.
The Abu Dhabi-based national carrier is offering flights to New York, Chicago and Washington starting at about $1,000, with relatively short connections via Abu Dhabi and a U.S. Preclearance service, allowing passengers to complete border control procedures before boarding.
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Etihad Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed at Ben Gurion Airport Wednesday morning
(Photo: Courtesy)
An Etihad Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed at Ben Gurion Airport Wednesday morning as part of the relaunch of the Tel Aviv–Abu Dhabi route. The airline is among the first to resume operations in Israel and will initially operate two daily flights. Starting May 2, it plans to expand to four daily flights using its new Airbus A321LR aircraft.
Alongside the route’s resumption, the airline is also offering onward flights to the United States with relatively short connection times. For example, flights to New York include a layover of about two hours and 10 minutes in Abu Dhabi, and roughly two and a half hours on the return leg, with arrival in Tel Aviv in the evening. Similar connection times — around two and a half hours — are offered on flights to Chicago and Washington.
The airline also published introductory fares: flights to New York between late April and early May start at $1,002, and from $1,077 in June. Flights to Chicago (mid-May) start at about $1,160, and to Washington (mid-May) from $1,085. All routes include a stopover in Abu Dhabi.
In addition to U.S. destinations, Etihad is offering onward flights to Asia at similar prices: Bangkok from about $990, Shanghai from about $985, and Tokyo from about $1,424, depending on the specified dates.
“We welcome the resumption of regular service on the Tel Aviv–Abu Dhabi route," said Ran Pollak, Etihad Airways’ station manager in Israel. "Etihad was among the last airlines to suspend its flights to Israel, and is now among the first to return to full operations as part of our commitment to the Israeli market and local passengers.”
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Tus Airways will offer daily flights to Lancara
(Photo: Oleksandr Savchuk/Shutterstock)
At the same time, other airlines also are expanding their operations at Ben Gurion Airport. TUS Airways, which resumed flights on Tuesday, is expected to begin daily service to Larnaca starting April 18, with fares from $99 one way. Beginning April 16, it will also operate four weekly flights to Rome, starting at $179 one way.
Blue Bird Airways also is expanding its activity: starting April 19 it will operate daily flights to Athens (from $149 one way); on April 26 it will increase to six weekly flights to Barcelona (from $259) and Berlin (from $229); and starting April 21 it will operate daily flights to Heraklion, Crete (from $199 one way).
“We are pleased to announce the expansion of our flight operations to and from Tel Aviv as part of our commitment to the Israeli market," said Amit Sagi, deputy CEO of Blue Bird and TUS Airways. "The return is being carried out gradually, and frequencies and destinations will increase each week until a full schedule is restored.”