First American airline to resume flights to Tel Aviv soon
Ever since the October attack by the Hamas terrorist group killed more than 1,400 Israelis and prompted a military response by the Israeli government, most international airlines have avoided flying to the area.
While Israel's flagship carrier El Al (ELALF) resumed flights to the United States a few months after the attack, Delta Air Lines (DAL), American Airlines (AAL) and United Airlines (UAL) suspended flights not only to Israel itself but also to neighboring countries such as Jordan due to security concerns, Sacbee writes.
But on February 21, United became the first U.S. airline to announce that it will resume daily flights to Tel Aviv from Newark Liberty International Airport this spring.
The airline plans to launch the first flights between New York and Tel Aviv with a stopover in Munich on March 3 and 5 to "ensure that all service providers are ready to support nonstop service" and then launch its first direct flight between the two cities by March 6.
The non-stop flights are designed to address the disadvantages of resuming flights via partner carriers such as Lufthansa (DLAKF) and Air France (AFRAF).
As TravelWise previously reported, some American airlines have warned of the dangers of traveling to Israel because of the war in the Middle East. The warning applies not only to this country.