Delta Air Lines has confirmed that it intends to resume non-stop flights between New York JFK and Tel Aviv from June 7 following what it described as an “extensive security risk assessment” that had given the green light from pilots and flight attendants to stay in Israel.
The carrier had intended to resume Israel flights from May 1 but pushed back the restart date by more than a month. Delta did not say why it had delayed and said affected passengers would be rebooked on alternative flights.
Delta will serve Tel Aviv with non-stop flights operated by an Airbus A330-900. Flight crews will layover in the country, although a spokesperson said the airline will “closely monitor the situation in Israel in conjunction with government and private-sector partners.”
United Airlines resumed non-stop flights to Israel from Newark earlier this month. The airline operated its first two flights with a technical stop in Munich but has since resumed non-stop flights.
The airline says it is “eager” to start a second daily flight from Newark as “demand recovers”.
Meanwhile, American Airlines has delayed its return to Tel Aviv until October 26 at the earliest. Travellers will instead be offered an alternative service with British Airways from London Heathrow when service resumes in April.
That flight, however, make a technical stop in Larnaca, Cyprus and will be operated on a short-haul configured single-aisle aircraft.
Other European airlines that have already restarted operations in Israel are also still avoiding laying over flight crews in the country, operating so-called turnaround services.
“Extensive security assessment?” AF, LH, LX, BA, UA, OS, AZ, FK. LO, ET have all resumed TLV long ago, without incident, and with generally full cabins. I think more likely they don’t have any spare equipment.