Delta Air Lines is poised to resume its service to Israel, marking it as the second American airline to reinitiate flights to the country since the suspension of operations last fall.
The Atlanta-based airline announced its decision to recommence flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) starting from June 7, 2024. This move comes after the suspension of flights by Delta and its major competitors, American and United Airlines, following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent conflict.
During the hiatus, El Al, Israel’s national carrier, was the sole operator on the U.S.-to-Tel Aviv route. United Airlines was the first among the U.S. carriers to resume its service to Tel Aviv in early March, albeit limited to one of its four routes to Israel. Delta now follows suit, restarting operations on one of its three routes to Israel. American Airlines has yet to announce plans for resuming its service to the region.
Delta Conducts Thorough Security Assessments Ahead of Israel Flight Resumption
The service reinstatement by Delta will feature a daily flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to TLV, beginning on June 7. Initially scheduled for May 1, the airline adjusted its resumption date to align with the onset of the peak summer tourist season, indicating an anticipation of sufficient demand.
Delta has conducted an “extensive security risk assessment” as part of its decision-making process to ensure the safety of its operations. The airline also stated it would continue to collaborate with government and private-sector partners to closely monitor the situation in Israel.