In October 2023, we saw most international airlines discontinue flights to Israel over safety concerns, following the Hamas terror attacks, and subsequent conflict. Ever since, we’ve seen foreign airlines take an “on again, off again” approach to service, based on the constantly evolving security situation. They want to fly to Tel Aviv, given that it’s a lucrative market, but they also have to take precautions.
Along those lines, Delta has just announced plans to relaunch service to Israel, after the latest round of suspensions, which happened nearly three months ago.
In this post:
Delta resuming daily New York to Tel Aviv route
As of Monday, September 1, 2025, Delta is planning on resuming daily flights between New York (JFK) and Tel Aviv (TLV). The route will operate with the following schedule:
DL234 New York to Tel Aviv departing 3:45PM arriving 9:35AM (+1 day)
DL235 Tel Aviv to New York departing 11:50AM arriving 5:05PM
The 5,677-mile flight is blocked at 10hr50min eastbound and 12hr15min westbound. Delta will use an Airbus A330-900neo for the service, featuring 281 seats, including 29 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, 56 extra legroom economy seats, and 168 economy seats.
For context, Delta most recently suspended service to Tel Aviv as of June 12, 2025, meaning that this suspension will have lasted for nearly three months.
Delta claims that the decision to resume Israel flights “follows a comprehensive security review, conducted in close coordination with government and private-sector partners,” and “the airline continues to prioritize the safety of its customers and crews and has implemented additional precautions for operations to and from Tel Aviv.”
Interestingly, this time around Delta waited a lot longer than United to resume flights to Israel. United most recently resumed flights to Israel as of July 21, 2025, so the airline has a roughly six week head start on Delta. I suspect Delta either just didn’t have any spare aircraft in the peak of summer, or just didn’t want to take the risk of reopening bookings, only to suspend the service again.
Only time will tell how long the service lasts this time around, before there’s the next scare.
Let’s see how the Delta & EL AL partnership evolves
With Delta resuming flights to Israel, I can’t help but point out an interesting development we’ve seen in the past couple of years. In June 2023, Delta and EL AL announced a new strategic partnership. Of course the timing of that wasn’t great, since it was supposed to launch in late 2023, around the same time that Delta pulled out of Israel the first time.
As we see more airlines returning to Israel again, I’m very curious to see what this partnership looks like in practice, and how Delta evolves its Israel route network in light of this. Historically, Delta has been heavily focused on joint venture partners and airlines that it invests in, so I think it’s almost a sure bet that Delta plans to eventually buy a stake in EL AL.
However, I suspect Delta is waiting some time to invest, given that EL AL’s valuation is at an all-time high, as the conflict has been good for the carrier’s business. EL AL is as profitable as ever, as the only airline that has been continuously flying to Israel, so fares have been through the roof.
Bottom line
As of September 1, 2025, Delta is resuming daily flights between New York and Tel Aviv. Most recently, Delta suspended Israel flights as of June 12, 2025. United returned to Israel as of July 21, 2025, so this is the longest gap we’ve seen between the two airlines resuming service. Anyway, it remains to be seen how long it is until the service is next suspended….
What do you make of Delta resuming flights to Israel?
One thing nearly every independent thinking White, Black, Asian, Christian, Muslim, Conservative, Liberal, Communist, Nationalist, National Socialist, Socialist, Vegan, Omnivore, Inuit, or Pagan can agree on is Zionism is evil and Israel is reprehensible in how they have treated Palestinians and people in the Gaza Strip. Israel has deliberately targeted kids getting food and schools. 20% of those in Palestine are Christians. If MAGA and the left wing agree on something, you know what Israel...
One thing nearly every independent thinking White, Black, Asian, Christian, Muslim, Conservative, Liberal, Communist, Nationalist, National Socialist, Socialist, Vegan, Omnivore, Inuit, or Pagan can agree on is Zionism is evil and Israel is reprehensible in how they have treated Palestinians and people in the Gaza Strip. Israel has deliberately targeted kids getting food and schools. 20% of those in Palestine are Christians. If MAGA and the left wing agree on something, you know what Israel is doing is atrocious.
Stop calling Israel NZ. The National Socialists were the ones who hated the Zionists and tried to stop them.
Did AIPAC take a stake in DL and UA ? Just think about this, Delta and United are going to be landing in TLV just 40 miles from a human slaughterhouse and man-made famine where the are thousands of starving people who would love even a bag of Delta pretzels. I am going to avoid Delta and United and any airline that flies to the Nazi state.
The only people starving in Gaza are the Israeli hostages who are there for nearly 2 years!!! all the rest get trucks of food from the UNICEF, WCK, WFP, GHF delivered to their homes. since May 2025, over 10,000 aid trucks have entered Gaza, with approximately 80% carrying food, alongside 5,000 tons of baby food and more than 2,500 tons of medical supplies.
@derek:
You have a great misconception about "One China" policy. At least, China and Taiwan share common language and culture, but only differ in ideology and government structure. Mao and Chiang both fought together to overthrow Japanese occupation. Mao later defeated Chiang Kai -shek, who fled to nearby island and created Taiwan.
Since China's Independence Day on Oct. 1st, 1949, it was at war with its neighbor Vietnam once in 1979 but it...
@derek:
You have a great misconception about "One China" policy. At least, China and Taiwan share common language and culture, but only differ in ideology and government structure. Mao and Chiang both fought together to overthrow Japanese occupation. Mao later defeated Chiang Kai -shek, who fled to nearby island and created Taiwan.
Since China's Independence Day on Oct. 1st, 1949, it was at war with its neighbor Vietnam once in 1979 but it had short border conflicts with others. It never grabbed land from or occupied land of any of its fourteen neighboring countries. China never slaughtered civilians and created collateral damages in its 14 neighboring countries. 99% of US population know "from river to sea" slogan but the same ratio don't know a new " the Greater Israel" ambition underway at the moment and the window to achieve it is closing in. Israelis and Arabs have nothing in common, including Arab Jews and Israeli Jews.
www.commondreams.org/news/netanyahu-greater-israel
Let's hope the seasoned travelers on the travel blogs can visualize the geography mentioned in the click above. We know the outrage expressed at " from river to sea"
slogan, given the reality that Israel is the only nuclear state in the region that controls the movements and livelihood of Palestinians in occupied territory since its statehood in 1948 plus it receives unconditional military and financial US support . We can anticipate the response to "The Greater Israel" ambition will be cricket and defend the indefensible the same way that Americans condemn Qatar as a Hamas
sympathizer before and after Qatari Emir gifted Trump $400M airplane, respectively.
Whatever y'all; Free Palestine.
From Hamas!
Who wants to fly to that murderous genocidal country
People who appreciate history and ancient architecture, etc, etc.
Only dinosaurs ignore their past and only the ignorant are unwilling to explore new horizons.
Gaza used to have an airport. President Bill Clinton was at its opening. Israel later destroyed the terminal, runway, and basically the entire airport.
When will Delta fly to Gaza? Well, the airport would have to be rebuilt but who will rebuild it if Israel bombs it after its constructed?
Why would Delta want to fly to a radical Jihadist Islamic territory where LGBTQ are persecuted/don't even exist, women have no rights, zero freedom of religion, zero freedom of speech, etc?!?!?!?! Please think before you post again......
Delta has flown to Russia before. They fly to Israel.
The Catholic Church exists in Gaza.
Lots of places lack freedom of speech.
Israel is not so terrible but they are really aggressive. They currently have a One China policy except it's One Israel policy... everything belongs to Israel from the Sea to the Sea.
Have you forgotten how this episode started on 10/7?
Israel has freedom of religion and a gay parade. Try those in Gaza!
You missed the important part of why Israel destroyed that airport. And the part where Israel contributed to building it attempt to reach peace.
and the part about you being gullible enough to believe either one
So it is stated! Any attempt to explain what is really going on in the region elicits the reply that it is not true, or not being gullible. While it is clear that most people hate Israel, most have no idea of the freedom Israel offers to all people and the truth about Gaza.
Israel withdrew from Gaza 20 years ago, leaving the area to be taken over by Hamas.
By the way,...
So it is stated! Any attempt to explain what is really going on in the region elicits the reply that it is not true, or not being gullible. While it is clear that most people hate Israel, most have no idea of the freedom Israel offers to all people and the truth about Gaza.
Israel withdrew from Gaza 20 years ago, leaving the area to be taken over by Hamas.
By the way, the hatred by Arabs towards Israel did not start in 1948, there was a massacre in Hebron in 1948, long before there was an Israel.
If you want to hate and vilify at least know what you are talking about.
So here is a little history lesson. (I doubt you are smart enough to understand anything, but I'll still try)
In the Oslo Accords, Israel and the Palestinians agreed to build airports in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Palestinians began work on a large airport in southern Gaza. The airport was named Gaza International Airport and opened on 24 November 1998.
On 14 December, US president Bill Clinton landed at the...
So here is a little history lesson. (I doubt you are smart enough to understand anything, but I'll still try)
In the Oslo Accords, Israel and the Palestinians agreed to build airports in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Palestinians began work on a large airport in southern Gaza. The airport was named Gaza International Airport and opened on 24 November 1998.
On 14 December, US president Bill Clinton landed at the airport and took part in a ribbon cutting.
At the time, the opening of the airport was described as evidence of progress toward Palestinian statehood and of collaboration between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Second Intifada broke out in September 2000, and the airport saw its last flight depart in 2001.
The Israeli military bombed the radar station and bulldozed the runway in December 2001.
Israel feared that the Palestinians would use the airport to smuggle in weapons and militants.
The pact became moot due to subsequent events involving Hamas. In 2006, the organization won the Palestinian legislative election and kidnapped an Israeli soldier. The incident sparked a conflict during which Israel bombed the airport. Buildings like the south wing, which was nearing completion, were damaged. Palestinian officials stopped protecting the airport. Hamas took over the Gaza Strip the following year, and the Israelis continued to shell the airport during wars with the group.
Delta and United just need to install missile defense systems on a few airplanes.
The risk to serving TLV is that valuable assets can easily be pulled w/ no ability to put that aircraft back into service for months.
and DL likely will move forward w/ a JV IF they can keep service on its own metal consistently there.
"Delta and United just need to install missile defense systems on a few airplanes."
It'd add significant weight, and tie those aircraft to only operating to that one destination (or risk flying dead-weight everywhere in the system) which hampers network flexibility.
All of the above options add multiple facets of cost, in exchange for what? The ability to serve a country that's increasingly making itself a social (and likely soon, economic) pariah on the world...
"Delta and United just need to install missile defense systems on a few airplanes."
It'd add significant weight, and tie those aircraft to only operating to that one destination (or risk flying dead-weight everywhere in the system) which hampers network flexibility.
All of the above options add multiple facets of cost, in exchange for what? The ability to serve a country that's increasingly making itself a social (and likely soon, economic) pariah on the world stage? Why bother, especially for a carrier who loves nothing more than to put people on partners and via partner hubs.
first, you missed the sarcasm.
second, LY obviously considers the weight worth it by being able to fly when others cannot.
3rd, as long as there is money to be made, companies will be there. I'm not getting into the politics or right or wrong of flying the route but Ben is right that LY is making big money by consistently being the only airline in/out of Israel.
Arkia (which also flies to NYC) and Israir are not the only airlines. Wizzair, Air Europa and LH group are currently flying to/from TLV.
and Arkia has been flying to NYC for precisely how long?
at the (repeated) depths of the crisis, how many airlines were still operating to TLV?
Tim, once the IDF, etc, neutralised Iran, it was only a matter of hours before the flood gates opened with the charge back into TLV.
One is astounded that the real Tim Dunn, would ever post such claptrap. The boggle definitely minds …. :-)
The mist has been cleared from my eyes Tim.