In October 2023, we saw most international airlines discontinue flights to Israel over safety concerns, in light of the conflict. While EL AL has operated continuously to and from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport, most foreign airlines haven’t. We’ve slowly seen some international airlines resume service to Israel, and now we’ll shortly see the first US airline resume flights.
In this post:
United will resume Newark to Tel Aviv route in March 2024
United has announced that it will resume daily flights between Newark (EWR) and Tel Aviv (TLV):
- The service will resume on March 2, 2024, and the flight on March 2 and March 4 will stop in Munich to “ensure all service providers are ready to support non-stop service to and from Newark” (it sounds to me like maybe the crews on these flights will initially overnight in Munich, to avoid a Tel Aviv layover?)
- There won’t be service on March 3 or March 5, 2024, so daily flights will resume as of March 6, 2024
United is continuing to monitor the situation in Tel Aviv and adjust schedules as warranted, including potentially pushing back this service. The airline is hoping to resume a second daily flight between Newark and Tel Aviv as of May 2024, in line with the recovery in demand.
Then United is hoping to resume service to Tel Aviv from Chicago (ORD), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington (IAD), with flights expected to return in the fall of 2024.
Prior to flights being discontinued, United was by far the biggest US carrier in Israel, and it has historically been one of United’s most lucrative international markets. So I’m not surprised to see the airline make this resumption a priority. Without much competition, I imagine United will do quite well with this service, and it might just be more lucrative than ever before.
What surprises me about this resumption
United notes that it has “conducted a detailed safety analysis” in the decision to bring back flights, “including close work with security experts and government officials in the United States and Israel.”
The airline states that it has also worked closely with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) to develop protocols to ensure safety.
I have to say, I’m a bit surprised to hear that the unions are seemingly onboard with operating these flights. I’m not saying that they should be scared to operate these flights, but at least in terms of perception, this has to be one of the more concerning destinations United flies to.
In the past we’ve frequently seen unions try to prevent flights that they believe pose a danger to crews, even if just minor. I’m curious if United pilots and flight attendants will be able to opt out of working these flights, or they’ll just be scheduled like any other routes.
Bottom line
United will become the first US airline to announce plans to resume Israel flights, as the airline will fly daily from Newark to Tel Aviv as of early March 2024. United hopes to resume a second daily flight as of May 2024, and then resume flights from other US gateways as of the fall of 2024.
Israel was a lucrative market for United before the current situation arose, so I can understand why the airline is hoping to resume these flights ASAP.
What do you make of United resuming flights to Israel?
Employees bid for these types of flights, they don't just get randomly scheduled.... Also, EL has been flying safely. I suspect most USA carriers had to cancel service because their own insurance companies wouldn't cover the flights.... clearly, they have coverage now.
Lufthansa, Emirates. Etihad and ELAL were flying to TLV all that time.
When you mix politics and religious beliefs with business - you lose business opportunities and money....
No,you don't,"have to say",you chose to say. It's a ridiculous phrase that's come into vogue the past few years. Do better. Aside from that, happy UA has decided to resume service.
It's worth noting that it's not just El Al which has been flying to TLV continuously since October. Ethiopian and Fly Dubai (and possibly others) have been doing the same.
I certainly won't be flying to Israel and boycott all Israeli goods and those of companies that support Israel's occupation and apartheid
Anti-Semites like you are not welcome in Israel. Adolf H would be proud of you.
Makes the country even more appealing if you stay away.
Awful lotta "Guest" accounts coming out of the woodwork to trash Israel at every opportunity.
Interesting observation - do you need to be a member in order to offer an opinion? A dissenting view on Israel is not trashing 'Israel at every opportunity'.
Today Palestinians have unprecedented access to Iranian foreign aid and U.S. military grade weapons. The capability of attempting to down a U.S. airliner has never been higher in the history of the Middle East conflicts. Unless you have business or family matters to tend to ; vacation somewhere else.
It would be a major strategic blunder for Hamas to attempt to down an American jet. Their biggest supporters go to some of our finest universities! Can't risk angering the base!
BA is resuming flights from London but with a stop in Cyprus - presumably crews will be changing there to avoid overnighting in TLV, and also allowing an easy last-minute change of plans.
Crews can opt out without pay. No premium pay.
It's interesting that people here tend to have liberal mind most times, but their thoughts get as conservative as Republicans when it comes to Israel.
Rational and moral people of all political denominations know easily which side to stand on in the face of wanton barbaric rape, torture, murder of innocent civilians, and kidnapping of survivors as well as the need to make sure that it absolutely, positively, won't happen again.
I lived through 9/11 and understand precisely what Israelis are feeling.
At least you don't side on something just because the party you favor does it.
"wanton barbaric rape, torture, murder of innocent civilians, and kidnapping of survivors"
Israel was doing that to the Palestinians long before Oct 7th.
Your a lying douchette
@Jake lol is that the best you can do?
Better than you deserve.
Complete lies. This is the problem with the discourse around this issue. Israel is not perfect (just like any country), and bears the burden of a lone democracy trying to survive the hostile realities of the Middle East. However to equate their actions with the lowest form of humans today in jihadi terrorists is despicable and reeks of antisemitic blood libels. Do better
Only one side of this "conflict" has been been found to be plausibly committing a genocide, according to both the highest international and American courts. Sorry that doesn't fit the Zionist hasbara propaganda that fills up comments sections like these.
@Luke, that initial ICJ ruling was equivalent to a grand jury indictment. They haven't tossed the case, nor have they instructed Israel to implement a ceasefire. They've elected to let it proceed to the next stage. The fact that they *could* have instructed Israel to halt the war, (as they did with Russia), but didn't, is quite telling.
No court needs to declare Hamas guilty of attempted genocide because Hamas freely admits that they want...
@Luke, that initial ICJ ruling was equivalent to a grand jury indictment. They haven't tossed the case, nor have they instructed Israel to implement a ceasefire. They've elected to let it proceed to the next stage. The fact that they *could* have instructed Israel to halt the war, (as they did with Russia), but didn't, is quite telling.
No court needs to declare Hamas guilty of attempted genocide because Hamas freely admits that they want to destroy Israel and kill Jews.
Israel kills civilians, displaces people from their land, is involved in raping women...they really are state sponsored jihadi terrorists.
You either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism.
Except when Israel is BEING the terrorist.
Then you have to have the bravery to call them out on it, and withstand the berserk barrage of gaslighting that will come as a result.
Unless of course, you're enough of a simp to believe that 30,000 civilian deaths and counting, is somehow still "self defense."
Where are you getting 30,000 "civilian deaths"? Hamas? Gaslighting is pushing terrorist propaganda on well-intentioned people to emotionally manipulate them. Conservative accounts have at least 1/3 of those deaths belonging to armed militants, which happens to be the most successful ratio in modern warfare. The fact any civilians are dead is a tragedy, but Hamas set the terms for this war and is 100% responsible for martyring their own citizens against their will.
@Al
"Where are you getting 30,000 "civilian deaths"? Hamas?
Various NGOs, actually. But your racist and dehumanizing point is the same as asking where Israel gets it's statistics from regarding their deaths.
"Conservative accounts have at least 1/3 of those deaths belonging to armed militants"
Account from whom, exactly? Israel? They've lied about so much already...
"Hamas set the terms for this war and is 100% responsible for martyring their own citizens against their...
@Al
"Where are you getting 30,000 "civilian deaths"? Hamas?
Various NGOs, actually. But your racist and dehumanizing point is the same as asking where Israel gets it's statistics from regarding their deaths.
"Conservative accounts have at least 1/3 of those deaths belonging to armed militants"
Account from whom, exactly? Israel? They've lied about so much already...
"Hamas set the terms for this war and is 100% responsible for martyring their own citizens against their will"
This has been going on long before Oct 7. And Israel as already said is the occupying power...
How is Israel the occupying power when they completely withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Furthermore the Jews are the indigenous people not the Fakestinians.
@Kolya2009
What a load of BS. Standing with the Palestinians doesn't mean you stand with terrorism.
Well, Israel is an occupying apartheid regime, so...
I genuinely hope Israel will put you and your cronies on their blacklist. People like you incite hatred and violence by disguising your latent antisemitism as a “pro-Palestine”-stance.
Israel is not perfect I would say I was pro Palestinian pre October 7. But with all those Arab countries out there not a single one wants to take in the Palestinians. Because they are barbaric. Even Egypt is building a wall.
Why should other Middle Eastern countries take Palestinians when Israel is occupying their land? There's a lot of talk here about Gaza/Hamas/7th October, but no one seems to bat an eye on what is happening in the West Bank, where there is NO Hamas presence. The occupation there by Israel is horrifying and has been going on well before 7th October. So yes Israel is definitely complicit in land grabbing, apartheid and genocide against Palestinians...
Why should other Middle Eastern countries take Palestinians when Israel is occupying their land? There's a lot of talk here about Gaza/Hamas/7th October, but no one seems to bat an eye on what is happening in the West Bank, where there is NO Hamas presence. The occupation there by Israel is horrifying and has been going on well before 7th October. So yes Israel is definitely complicit in land grabbing, apartheid and genocide against Palestinians for a very long time, but for some people it seems everything just started on 7th October. Please lets all read and educate ourselves over here.
Furthermore, I urge all of you to watch this by one of the most well researched Youtubers out there-Johnny Harris who presents all his videos with facts and deep dives into issues. Here he talks about how Netanyahu and Israel actually relied on (and you can say created back in the day) Hamas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PeYDphtHYo
Any idea if they will park the planes in Israel for 24 hours or fly them somewhere nearby like Cyprus?
UA says they will make stops in Germany for the first couple days but then fly nonstop from the US with the planes undoubtedly turning right around so crews have a standard 26 hour layover.
For some reason I thought the plane would be sitting on the ground for 24 hours. Not sure why I thought that. It's a pretty quick turn of around 90 minutes or so in TLV.
Shameful for United to fly to a country which South Africa said is enacting Apartheid worse than anything ever experienced in South Africa.
Shameful to parrot Hamas terrorist propaganda
@Hammerofguam
Shameful to support the murderers aka Biden/Netanyahu
You know what you people never talk about? The fact that Israhell had chance to never let the whole thing happen. Egypt (yes the Arab country - yet the current government favor the West) kept warning Israhell before Oct 7 that Hamas was preparing an attack, and it is your great leader Netanyahu who ignored that and instead saw it as a chance to accomplish their dream....
@Hammerofguam
Shameful to support the murderers aka Biden/Netanyahu
You know what you people never talk about? The fact that Israhell had chance to never let the whole thing happen. Egypt (yes the Arab country - yet the current government favor the West) kept warning Israhell before Oct 7 that Hamas was preparing an attack, and it is your great leader Netanyahu who ignored that and instead saw it as a chance to accomplish their dream.
Also, if Palestinians deserve to die because they voted for Hamas (then why keep arresting/killing those in West Bank where Hamas can't do anything yet blame Hamas entirely?), then Israhellis also deserve to die, even more than Palestinians since Isharell is supposedly the only "democratic" country of Middle East, and Israhellis chose Netanyahu to be their leader.
Israhell killed more children per day since Oct 7 than how many children Nazis killed during WW2. I guess Israhell is now the new Nazi? And Russia killed less civilians in last 2 years in Ukraine than how much Israhell killed in just five months. Maybe either critize both Israhell and Russia or neither? Stop making double standards, it's just beyond ridiculous.
@Mason Show me where Ukraine invaded Russia, raped/murdered 1400 people, and took 200+ hostages, and then we can talk about whether there's a double standard.
(and btw "Israhell" is not a clever nickname)
"Shameful to parrot Hamas terrorist propaganda"
Hamas isn't Palestine, and Palestine isn't Hamas.
"Shameful for South Africa to be as antisemitic and lie as much as they are"
What a ridiculous and asinine comment.
Shameful for South Africa to be as antisemitic and lie as much as they are - Even more shameful and ignorant for someone to support this Lie
I'm South African. How arrogant and narrow-minded to say SA's stance is 'antisemetic' and perpetuated on a lie. Nevermind the plausible gen0cide western-folks seem to gloss over. Shame on you.
@MS99 While it's dishonest to label South Africa as antisemitic for filing this suit, it's also dishonest to pretend that South Africa couldn't possibly have any ulterior motives. They were perfectly happy to host Sudan's al-Bashir a decade ago, despite the fact that the ICC had an outstanding warrant on him for genocide. What could be different this time around? A few possibilities:
1. South Africa is the most dependent member of BRICS, and at...
@MS99 While it's dishonest to label South Africa as antisemitic for filing this suit, it's also dishonest to pretend that South Africa couldn't possibly have any ulterior motives. They were perfectly happy to host Sudan's al-Bashir a decade ago, despite the fact that the ICC had an outstanding warrant on him for genocide. What could be different this time around? A few possibilities:
1. South Africa is the most dependent member of BRICS, and at least two of those countries (RC) have an interest in driving a wedge through the Western nations.
2. The South African government cannot provide basic utilities to its population, and welcomes this useful distraction and boost in opinion polls.
3. Israel provided weapons to the apartheid government in the 80s, and South Africa has not forgiven them.
Ulterior Motives? Maybe. But as a South African, my opinion that it is very plausible one of the SA government's motive's is in fact a moral one. Civil society in (most) Western countries have taken a principled stand against what is happening in Gaza, yet the foreign policy of their respective governments does not reflect this. The same could be said about SA's failure to arrest Al-Bashir (I must also point out that it was...
Ulterior Motives? Maybe. But as a South African, my opinion that it is very plausible one of the SA government's motive's is in fact a moral one. Civil society in (most) Western countries have taken a principled stand against what is happening in Gaza, yet the foreign policy of their respective governments does not reflect this. The same could be said about SA's failure to arrest Al-Bashir (I must also point out that it was a different administration that made this egregious decision, but history will not take this distinction in to account).
To your numbered points:
1. I am not knowledgeable enough to offer an opinion on whether SA's position is to advance countries wanting to drive a wedge between Western countries.
2. I agree that the SA Government's action is indeed a distraction to domestic issues. My sentiments towards the Government and the ruling party has changed on the back of its bold action to bring attention to and assist in cessation of the atrocities happening in Gaza.
3. Whilst it is correct that Israel has supported the Apartheid government (whether in arms or other resources), there are many other Western countries that supported Apartheid SA, for which SA has friendly relations. I mean, the US government classified Nelson Mandela as a 'terrorist' until 2008.
"Shameful for South Africa to be as antisemitic and lie as much as they are"
Lie? Hmm, then why was yet S.Africa able to take its case to the International Court of Justice, present evidence, have Israel present a counter argument, and win?
But I'm sure if you just generically scream "Antisemitism!" a bit louder, the face of those facts will change.
They didn't "win" anything? Their were no findings of the genocide slander S.Africa tried to promote. And with 57 muslim countries against 1 jewish, it's a mistake to think international bodies like the UN or ICJ are in any way unbiased. It's an appeal to a completely false moral authority
@Scrappy
That whole line of calling anyone who dares to criticize Israel as being antisemitic is old, played out, and tired.
I think the only person who is being 'ignorant' over here is you mate, please do a deep dive into this issue, and anyone with critical thinking and logic will understand who is at fault over here. I urge you to watch this video to get started: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PeYDphtHYo
Furthermore, why is the criticism of Israel considered anti-semetic? Is the country Israel the same as the Jewish religion? Because as far as I can see...
I think the only person who is being 'ignorant' over here is you mate, please do a deep dive into this issue, and anyone with critical thinking and logic will understand who is at fault over here. I urge you to watch this video to get started: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PeYDphtHYo
Furthermore, why is the criticism of Israel considered anti-semetic? Is the country Israel the same as the Jewish religion? Because as far as I can see there are several Jews who are against the Israeli government and its genocidal actions. Are these Jews also anti-semetic? How is that possible? If that is the case then one could say any criticism of Palestine is Islamophobia or anti-christ hatred which doesn't make sense at all.
Such a blatant lie!!!!when i was in israel I had an issue with immigration so they made me go to the headquarters of the immigration authority to make an appointment to speak with the head of immigration i got my appointment and the head of immigration was a nice arab guy named mohammed okay! you tell me that when south africa had apartheid there were black people running goverment offices!!!!!!!!!!!
@sol wingman
That is a blatant lie, the head (or Minister) of immigration (aka the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration) has never been non-Jewish. The same for the Deputy Minister. So stop lying. Okay!
Geez, I obviously missed all those hotels, buses, trains and restaurants marked 'Jews Only' when I was in Israel last year.
I'd be willing to bet the unions were able to secure premium pay for crew who operate these flight
without getting political, the war longer involves missiles being shot into Israel either from Lebanon or Gaza. It is now a ground war in Gaza. International carriers would not be there if there was a risk; US and UK carriers are almost always the highest risk in conflicts involving the Middle East and that aligns with where attacks are being seen in the Red Sea.
KLM is returning on April 1 and DL on May...
without getting political, the war longer involves missiles being shot into Israel either from Lebanon or Gaza. It is now a ground war in Gaza. International carriers would not be there if there was a risk; US and UK carriers are almost always the highest risk in conflicts involving the Middle East and that aligns with where attacks are being seen in the Red Sea.
KLM is returning on April 1 and DL on May 1. DL has a new partnership with El Al which has seen very strong business throughout the war. A DL-LY Joint Venture is likely at some point in the future.
DL and UA both have spare capacity that they can deploy when markets reopen just as TLV or China.
Yes, and in fact, over 1500 rockets had been fired into Israel during 2023 - before October 7.
And how many were fired into Gaza before Oct 7? And how many Palestinians in the West Bank - which Hamas doesn't control - were killed and/or kidnapped by Israel before Oct 7 as well?
Zero, actually. There was a ceasefire in effect up until Hamas broke it on Oct. 7
Not zero, actually. See Operation Breaking Dawn, which lasted from August 5th to August 7th, 2022.
The part that isn't true? "over 1500 rockets had been fired into Israel during 2023 - before October 7." You failed to provide the context that most of those rockets were fired in response to Israel's Operation Shield and Arrow...
This isn't true, unfortunately. Rocket fire from gaza has mostly quieted as Hamas gets successfully dismantled, however hezbollah has been firing into israel from lebanon every day. Over 300,000 people remain displaced from northern israel since Oct 7.
Dismantled? Israel at this point has probably killed more of it's own citizens in Gaza than Hamas militants...
If they are just trying to make sure that the vendors can handle the flights, why do they need the technical stops in Munich for the first two flights?
How woke does one have to be to label a Hamas’ war against Israel as “conflict”?
How ignorant does one have to be to label Israel's oppression and apartheid against Palestinians as war?
To each their own - hopefully humanity reigns supreme somewhere. Not likely on the Internet though.
Been to israel many times and it is anything but apartheid arabs proudly walk the streets unafraid of anyone unlike a jew who has to fear for his life to walk in most arab countries (excluding UAE) and the arabs in israel hold the highest positions in business; goverment, health; education and what not!
this is what you call apartheid???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"arabs proudly walk the streets unafraid of anyone"
Well, Palestinian-Israelis are proud even if Israel treats them like second class citizens. Which is pretty much apartheid.
"the arabs in israel hold the highest positions in business; goverment, health; education and what not!"
What are you basing this nonsense on?
Go to israel and tell me if the arabs are being treated like second class citizens. ive been there many times its simply not true! and regard to "the arabs in israel hold the highest positions in business; goverment, health; education and what not!" youre simply unaware of the facts arabs hold many high positions in the goverment, most top israeli universities have a highly unporportianate amount of arab students and professors.the israeli health system...
Go to israel and tell me if the arabs are being treated like second class citizens. ive been there many times its simply not true! and regard to "the arabs in israel hold the highest positions in business; goverment, health; education and what not!" youre simply unaware of the facts arabs hold many high positions in the goverment, most top israeli universities have a highly unporportianate amount of arab students and professors.the israeli health system treats jews and arabs 100% equal and by the way gives world class treatment for injured hamas terrorists including yeyhe sinwar who masterminded the oct.7 pogrom also received cutting edge surgeries and treatments to treat his brain tumor, while being held in israeli prisons for killing israelis. so before you spew forth youre vicios hatred check out the facts, and now that united is flying you might want to go see for yourself if arabs are treated like second class!
"Go to israel and tell me if the arabs are being treated like second class citizens"
The Palestinians there are saying it...
"most top israeli universities have a highly unporportianate amount of arab students and professors"
Any statistics to back this up?
"the israeli health system treats jews and arabs 100% equal"
Does it really?
"gives world class treatment for injured hamas terrorists including yeyhe sinwar who masterminded the oct.7 pogrom also received cutting edge...
"Go to israel and tell me if the arabs are being treated like second class citizens"
The Palestinians there are saying it...
"most top israeli universities have a highly unporportianate amount of arab students and professors"
Any statistics to back this up?
"the israeli health system treats jews and arabs 100% equal"
Does it really?
"gives world class treatment for injured hamas terrorists including yeyhe sinwar who masterminded the oct.7 pogrom also received cutting edge surgeries and treatments to treat his brain tumor, while being held in israeli prisons for killing israelis"
Good for him, but given all the reports of torture basic Palestinian prisoners have received (many held in military jails without charges), it seems like you are using an anecdotal example to spin a false narrative.
As per the Council of Foreign Relations,
"Arab citizens have the same legal rights as Jewish Israelis, but they tend to live in poorer cities, have less formal education, and face other challenges that some experts attribute to structural discrimination."
"Arab political parties have long struggled to gain representation in Israel’s government, and many Arabs have expressed alarm at the leadership of right-wing Jewish politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-know-about-arab-citizens-israel
ststistics yes Haifa university,hadassah university,etc. enter any of these universities or their affiliated hospitals and tell me if its not so. ive been there!
Palestinians aren't Israeli citizens. However there are over 2 million arabs that are full citizens and fill the positions OP listed.
You should talk less about things you seemingly know nothing about.
@Al
"Palestinians aren't Israeli citizens"
Actually, yes, they are. Most of the non-Jewish Israeli citizens who speak Arabic are Palestinian.
"You should talk less about things you seemingly know nothing about"
Oh the irony of that comment coming from you...
For a start, how about Khaled Kabub, who sits on the Supreme Court? How's that for a basis for the 'nonsense'?
It isn't a conflict?
As you know very well, that “conflict” you guys are trying to downplay has become a brutal war. I proudly stand with the State of Israel, the IDF, and genuinely hope that Hamas, its supporters and its leaders, will be defeated for good.
I suspect they'll have a crew change in MUC, so that none of the crew are overnighting at TLV - i.e. crew 1 is EWR-MUC, then crew 2 does MUC-TLV-MUC, and then crew 1 takes it back MUC-EWR. Much like ICN was used for flights to the PRC during the pandemic. Just a hunch.
Yeah, but why only the first two days? My guess is they're also deadheading crews