Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are returning to Israel this week, restoring major U.S. airline service to Tel Aviv after both carriers suspended flights earlier in 2026 amid the conflict involving Israel and Iran.
Delta resumed its New York JFK-Tel Aviv route with a flight departing Sunday and arriving at Ben-Gurion Airport on Monday morning. The service is operating daily using an Airbus A330-900neo, marking Delta’s first direct flight to Israel since it paused operations in March.
United is following with its own return from Newark Liberty International Airport. The airline is scheduled to restart service with two daily flights from Newark, operated by Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners. A third frequency, operating four times per week, is planned to begin in November.
The return of the two U.S. carriers is significant because it restores direct competition with El Al on one of Israel’s most commercially important long-haul markets. For more than six months, El Al faced much less competition from U.S. airlines after international carriers repeatedly suspended service because of regional security concerns.
Delta maintained some indirect access to Israel through its partnership with El Al during the suspension. United, by contrast, does not have a codeshare agreement with an Israeli carrier, although passengers could still reach Tel Aviv through Star Alliance connections in Europe.
Competition Returns, but Lower Fares May Take Time
The timing of the resumptions is particularly important because they come just ahead of the High Holy Days, traditionally a busy period for travel between Israel and the United States. Demand is expected to remain elevated, and travel advisors caution that the return of competition may not immediately translate into substantially lower fares.
Some consultants have noted that Delta has been marketing its return with more competitive pricing, while United’s fares for the remainder of 2026 remain high across economy, Premium Economy and Business Class. Broader pricing pressure may therefore become more visible after the autumn holiday season, once additional capacity has been operating for longer.
European connectivity is also continuing to recover. Scandinavian Airlines is scheduled to resume Copenhagen-Tel Aviv service from October 26 with four weekly Airbus A320neo round trips, a higher frequency than it offered before its latest suspension.
Wizz Air is expanding its Israel network as well, with new or returning service planned to destinations including Catania, London Gatwick, Venice, Cluj and Iasi, alongside higher frequencies on existing routes.
The gradual return of international airlines suggests that confidence in the Tel Aviv market is improving, although carriers continue to monitor regional security conditions closely. Airlines have repeatedly adjusted Israel schedules during periods of heightened risk, and future operations could still change if the security situation deteriorates.
For travelers, the most immediate effect is greater choice. With Delta and United back in the market, passengers once again have multiple nonstop options between Israel and the New York region, while growing European service provides additional connecting alternatives. The next question is whether that extra capacity will be enough to push fares meaningfully lower once the peak holiday period passes.
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