United removes Israel from flight schedule, Delta extends break to Tel Aviv

Delta Air Lines has extended the suspension of its flights to Israel and United Airlines has removed the flights from its schedule as tensions in the region continue to escalate.

Delta suspended flights between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York and Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv for the first time last week and has now extended this moratorium until the end of August. According to the airline, sales of these flights have also been suspended.

Delta said it had issued a travel exemption for customers who booked travel to or from Tel Aviv before September 10.

The airline said in a statement that it “continuously monitors the evolving security situation and evaluates its operations based on security policies and intelligence reports.”

United Airlines also suspended flights to Israel last week and interrupted service between its hub at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Tel Aviv. On Thursday, the airline said it had removed the flights to Tel Aviv from its schedule, Reuters reported. Previously, they were bookable from September 1.

“Our flights to Tel Aviv remain suspended – we look forward to resuming flights as soon as it is safe for our customers and crew,” the airline said in a statement to Travel + LeisureCustomers who have already booked flights can receive a refund or be rebooked on United flights to any city in Europe or the Middle East.

Both Delta and United initially suspended flights to the city in October after Israel declared war on Hamas following a violent invasion of its borders and an ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. However, both airlines resumed flights there in the spring and summer.

The extended suspensions come amid rising tensions and fears of a wider conflict in the region. As a result, several international airlines have also recently suspended flights to the area. Washington Post These include the Lufthansa Group (consisting of Lufthansa Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and others), which temporarily cancelled flights to Amman, Jordan and Erbil in northern Iraq earlier this week, and Air India, which temporarily cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv.

In its official warning, the US State Department recommends that travelers “reconsider” a trip to Israel “due to terrorism and social unrest” and not travel to northern Israel within four kilometers of the Lebanese and Syrian borders.

“The security situation remains unpredictable and U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness, as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire, often occur without warning,” the ministry wrote in its statement.