United Airlines has announced its plans to resume flights to Israel next month, reinstating a route that was halted in October during the Israel-Hamas conflict. The airline disclosed that it will commence flights from Newark, New Jersey, to Tel Aviv with a layover in Munich on March 2 and March 4. United aims to initiate daily service on March 6 and intends to introduce a second daily flight by May.
American Airlines and Delta Air Lines had also suspended flights to Tel Aviv at the onset of the conflict but have not yet specified when they will resume service. Lufthansa, along with its subsidiaries Austrian Airlines and Swiss, reinstated flights to Tel Aviv in January, followed by Air France. Several other European carriers have indicated their plans to recommence flights to Israel this spring.
United Airlines emphasized that it conducted a thorough safety analysis and sought guidance from security experts and government authorities in both countries before making the decision to resume flights. The airline also collaborated with the pilot and flight attendant unions in the decision-making process.
The Chicago-based carrier stated that it will assess the feasibility of resuming flights to Israel from San Francisco, Chicago, and Dulles airport near Washington, D.C., later this year.