UNITED Airlines has confirmed it is relaunching routes to a major capital city from November 1.
It will be the first time in two years that the routes will be on offer to travelers again.
United Airlines is resuming flights between two US airports and Tel Aviv, Israel (stock)[/caption]
United, along with other airlines, had suspended routes to Israel after the October 7 attacks in 2023 sparked security fears (Stock)[/caption]
On Thursday, the airline confirmed it will be bringing back flight routes between Tel Aviv, Israel, and two major US airports.
United Airlines flights will run between Tel Aviv and Chicago O’Hare from November 1.
This will be followed by flights between the Israeli capital and Washington Dulles International in DC on November 2.
The carrier has not operated on these routes since 2023 with only flights running between Israel and New York.
United, along with other major airlines, suspended flights to the region due to safety concerns after the October 7 attacks.
But as of November, three flights a week will be departing to the capital from DC, and four a week from Chicago.
No other airline is currently offering direct flights to Tel Aviv from either of the US airports.
Israel’s Minister of Transportation and Road Safety Miri Regev said the decision came after a meeting with senior officials at the airline.
“The expansion of United’s destinations is great news for Israelis and those coming from abroad; it will increase the supply and lower the prices,” she wrote on X.
“I thank the Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Moshe Ben-Zaken, and the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority, Shmuel Zakai.
“Senior company officials noted that relations of trust and cooperation with the Ministry of Transport have strengthened particularly during the period of war, and that they are committed to further expanding flight routes to Israel from additional destinations in the United States.
“They also added that they appreciate the capabilities demonstrated by the Ministry of Transport in managing civil aviation and maintaining the high level of safety, even under the complex conditions of the period.”
“The Ministry of Transport will continue to act to strengthen the aviation system, expand ties with international companies, and ensure reliable and safe service for Israeli citizens,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, the airline’s senior vice president of Global Network Planning and Alliances, Patrick Quayle, said the move “underscores United’s longstanding commitment to Tel Aviv”.
The route relaunch sees United reinstated as the US carrier with the most flights to Israel.
Delta Airlines has also resumed flights to Tel Aviv with flights departing from New York JFK from September 1.
“Delta is continuously monitoring the evolving security environment and assessing our operations based on security guidance and intelligence reports,” it noted in the announcement.
United travelers took to Facebook to thank the airline for its reinstated service.
One said the move “makes sense” as “flights from NYC are always running full”.
Meanwhile, Spirit Airlines will be axing all routes to 11 airports from October 2.
And, Delta is also going to permanently cut all flights between two US airports as of November 8.
Travelers have thanked the airline after saying flights to and from New York are running full (stock)[/caption]
