Summary
- United Airlines is ready to resume flights to Tel Aviv on January 9, 2024, after suspending service as a result of the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
- The airline will initially offer 14 weekly flights between Newark and Tel Aviv, with plans to expand its operations in a second phase.
- United’s return to Tel Aviv follows the resumption of flights by other airlines, including Lufthansa, as connectivity to the airport slowly improves.
In keeping with the newest schedule filings from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, United Airlines is slated to resume its flights to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) starting January 9, 2024. The airline suspended flights to Israel on October 9, following the atrocities committed by the terrorist group Hamas in Israel on October 7, resulting in a conflict between the terrorist group and Israel within the Gaza Strip.
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Return to Israel
The Chicago-based carrier has scheduled its return to Tel Aviv, Israel, for January 9 with the resumption of its twice-daily service between Newark Liberty (EWR) and Tel Aviv. United is already selling tickets for each UA84 and UA90 flights for Tuesday, January 9. The primary flight, UA84, is scheduled to depart EWR at 15:55 and arrive at TLV the next day at 09:20, while the later flight, UA90, will depart EWR at 23:00 and arrive at TLV the following day at 16:20. Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners will operate each flights.
Photo: United Airlines
United will initially offer 14 weekly flights between Newark and Tel Aviv in this primary phase. Then, in a second phase, in line with data from Cirium, United will resume flights to Tel Aviv from Chicago (ORD) on February 15, Washington Dulles (IAD) on February 16, and San Francisco (SFO) on February 15.
From Chicago, the airline will operate 4 weekly flights (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), while from Washington, they’ll operate three weekly flights (Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), and from San Francisco, they’ll operate every day flights. Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners will operate flights from Chicago and Washington to Tel Aviv, while Boeing 777-300ERs will operate flights from San Francisco. By the tip of February, United will offer 28 weekly flights between Tel Aviv and the US.
Scheduled but not confirmed
Although the present schedule filings indicate a nearing resumption of operations to Israel, with flights bookable on the United website, the airline maintains its service stays suspended. A spokesperson told Easy Flying,
Our flying to Tel Aviv stays suspended until conditions allow them to resume.
Which means that although things look positive, these flights could still be canceled, and people making bookings should pay attention to the chance.
In the event that they are subsequently canceled, it would not be the primary time United has had a false start in its return to TLV. Last month, a public relations agency that works with the airline announced that United would resume flights in November; nonetheless, this announcement was incorrect, leading United to correct the announcement. Still, United has made strides to maintain its business within the coveted Israel-United States sector.
In late November, United announced an extension in frequent flyer elite status for travelers affected by the carrier’s suspension of flights to Tel Aviv. United had the biggest presence amongst US airlines at Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport. It was the second-largest airline serving the United States-Israel market behind Israeli flag carrier El Al.
Photo: KITTIKUN YOKSAP | Shutterstock
The news comes amid Star Alliance partner Lufthansa Group’s announcement on Friday stating that its airlines, including Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines, will resume flights to Israel on January 8, 2024, a day before United’s scheduled return.
Within the US, the opposite two of the ‘big three’ airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, are slated to return to Israel by the tip of March 2024. In keeping with current Cirium data, each Delta and American will resume their every day flights between Latest York-JFK and Tel Aviv, with American utilizing a Boeing 777-200 on the route and Delta using an Airbus A330neo. Again, these flights might be canceled within the interim, so prospective passengers are urged caution.
Lost connectivity
Since Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, El Al and fellow Israeli carriers Arkia and Israir proceed to operate flights and function a obligatory air bridge connecting Israel to Asia, Europe, and North America, as most foreign airlines have suspended flights to Tel Aviv as a result of the war and insurance reasons. The Israeli government has backed insurance for Israeli carriers to make sure they will proceed flying.
42% Of Flights At Tel Aviv Have Been Canceled Over The Past Twelve Days
El Al has only canceled 3.09% of the scheduled flights.
Nevertheless, in recent weeks, some foreign airlines have resumed service to Tel Aviv, including flyDubai, Etihad Airways, Uzbekistan Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Red Wings, and Azimuth Airline. Nevertheless, as of December 15, 2023, there are 498 weekly flights to Tel Aviv, a major 66.4% drop from the variety of flights to the airport in September 2023.
Photo: ChameleonsEye | Shutterstock
Still, key airlines that used to fly to Tel Aviv have yet to resume their connectivity to the airport. In early December, Ryanair announced that it could not resume flights to Israel until February. Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic has suspended flights through March 17, British Airways until January 10, Iberia until February 29, and Vueling until January 13.
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