United Airlines returns to Israel ahead of schedule

Foreign carriers continue to resume operations in Israel as ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds, leading United Airlines to return ahead of schedule.

By World Israel News Staff

United Airlines and several other foreign carriers are returning to Israel, after suspending operations following the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran last month.

United, the world’s largest airline in terms of fleet size and the second-highest earner in the U.S. after Delta, will be returning to Israel ahead of schedule, the company said Tuesday.

After shuttering its Israel routes following the launch of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion against Iran on June 13, United Airlines announced after the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that it would resume service to and from Israel on or after July 31.

However, on Tuesday, United Airlines announced that it will resume flights to and from Tel Aviv beginning on July 21.

“This resumption is in line with United’s longstanding commitment to serving Tel Aviv,” the carrier said in a press statement.

“United service to Tel Aviv always follows a detailed assessment of operational considerations in the region and close consultation with the unions representing our flight attendants and pilots.”

United Airlines will initially operate two direct flights to and from Israel daily on its Tel Aviv-New York route.

Other foreign carriers have also indicated they will resume service to Israel, including the Hungary-based budget airline Wizz Air.

Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev (Likud) said that Jerusalem had signed a deal with Wizz Air paving the way for the carrier’s early return to Israel.

Wizz Air had been expected to resume operations sometime in September.

Now, however, the airline will begin flights to and from Israel on August 8.

Israel is slated to reopen Ben Gurion International Airport’s Terminal 1, expanding air travel and enabling budget carriers to return.

The Greece-based Aegean Airlines will also return to Israel soon, with flights slated to begin on July 14th, after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced Monday it was ending all flight restrictions to Israel.

Germany’s Lufthansa is slated to resume operations in Israel on August 1.