One certainly wonders for how much longer Delta and United will try to serve Israel, given how unreliably the service is operating…
In this post:
Delta & United flights to Israel suspended yet again
Operating to Israel reliably has been a challenge since October 7, 2023, given regional tensions and security concerns. Nonetheless, Delta and United have been trying to operate these flights to the best of their ability, given how lucrative they can be.
Just recently, we saw Delta and United resume flights to Israel — Delta resumed flights on May 20, 2025, while United resumed flights on June 5, 2025. However, this round of service didn’t last long, before being suspended.
On Thursday night, Israel launched a “preemptive” strike on Iran, targeting some of the country’s nuclear sites. Israel did this over concerns that Iran would soon attack it, and this was done without support from the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio even specifically distanced the Trump administration from this operation:
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
Despite warnings that such an attack was imminent, US airlines still tried to operate flights to Israel yesterday afternoon, ahead of the attack. However, neither flight actually made it to Israel.
United’s Newark to Tel Aviv service (UA84) operated as a roughly 10-hour “flight to nowhere,” making it most of the way across the Atlantic, before returning to Newark, where it landed at 2:38AM this morning.
Delta’s New York to Tel Aviv service (DL234) operated as a roughly eight-hour “flight to nowhere,” making it just off the coast of Newfoundland, before returning to New York, where it landed at 1:44AM this morning.
Both Delta and United have now canceled their Israel flights for the coming days. One wonders what’s going on with the Delta and United crews who were supposed to work the return flights, and whether they’re stuck in Israel.
I wonder how much longer this service will last
While EL AL has operated continuously since the October 7 attacks and subsequent conflict, other airlines have taken an “on again, off again” approach to serving Israel, or have just cut flights altogether.
The challenge is that Israel is a lucrative market for airlines, but it’s also important to be able to operate service consistently. Just look at United’s Israel service over the past year, as an example:
- United suspended Tel Aviv flights as of July 30, 2024
- United resumed Tel Aviv flights as of March 15, 2025
- United suspended Tel Aviv flights as of May 3, 2025
- United resumed Tel Aviv flights as of June 5, 2025
- United suspended Tel Aviv flights as of June 13, 2025
If this is the level of reliability with which the airline can offer service, surely it doesn’t actually make sense to operate, no? Or are the flights that are operating so massively profitable?
I’d be curious to know how exactly aircraft are being “earmarked” for Israel flights. Airline scheduling is really complex, and it’s a bit of a puzzle, given that we’re talking about fleets of hundreds of aircraft. Are Delta and United actually keeping dedicated planes ready to go when Israel service can operate, do they just have one fewer spare aircraft when the service does operate, or what?
I just don’t see the situation in Israel normalizing anytime soon, so I have to wonder if we might soon see a longer term suspension again, simply for economic reasons. Then again, perhaps Delta and United are happy losing money on this service for some time, so they’re in a dominant position if/when things normalize.
Bottom line
Delta and United have once again suspended service to Israel, as Israel is attacking Iran. Yesterday afternoon, flights took off from Newark and New York, but both ended up returning to their origin, resulting in long “flights no where.”
It remains to be seen how long the suspensions last this time around. I’d be fascinated to know the economics of such inconsistent service.
What do you make of this latest flight suspension to Israel?
Does UA and DL have special planes for those flights? I agree with a comment from the other article to let the local airline do it all and have partnerships....
No they do not. Any aircraft that they use to fly that route can be swapped in. Its not like some of them have flares and missle defense systems installed like EL Al planes.
Ben, when you posted about Israel flights resuming just a couple of weeks ago I called out "for how long?".
It is irresponsible for US carriers to fly to Tel Aviv full stop until durable peace of achieved.
Then is it also irresponsible for US carriers to fly to other Middle Eastern countries until durable peace is achieved?
Are Qatar or Dubai in an active conflict the same way Israel is?
Because those situations are not comparable at all.
I distinctly recall the author of this site stating his comment section would be moderated after implementing new guidelines for respectful dialogue. I guess that went out the window when he realized rage baiting engagement pays more. This used to be one of the few places online to escape toxic politics. Disappointing.
Engagement over everything.
Israel is justified in dealing with these aggressive savages. They are doing the world a favor.
Time for regime change in Persia.
I wish for Israhell what you wish for Palestine (and the rest of the countries who live under constant attack by the Zionist regime)
God bless Israel
Hey Ben, would you be so kind as to indulge a modest correction to your charmingly misleading headline — “Israel-Bound Delta & United Flights Divert, As Tensions Escalate”? Allow me to offer something that flirts a bit more shamelessly with the truth:
“Israel-Bound Delta & United Flights Divert, As Israel’s War of Aggression Against Its Neighbours Soars to New Genocidal Heights”
Let's be honest, if we’re going to dress up a military onslaught in an...
Hey Ben, would you be so kind as to indulge a modest correction to your charmingly misleading headline — “Israel-Bound Delta & United Flights Divert, As Tensions Escalate”? Allow me to offer something that flirts a bit more shamelessly with the truth:
“Israel-Bound Delta & United Flights Divert, As Israel’s War of Aggression Against Its Neighbours Soars to New Genocidal Heights”
Let's be honest, if we’re going to dress up a military onslaught in an Avi-journalistic drag, the least we can do is pick a costume that isn’t insultingly transparent. "Tensions escalate"—how quaint...
Surprisingly a lot of liberal Zionists in the aviation space. JonNYC most notably.
It's completely disgusting and degranged, morally speaking.
If liberals didn't have double standards they wouldn't have any.
He doesn’t hide his Zionism and has been making money off this genocide by garnering traffic to his blog, what else would you expect from such a person?
Your post and the underlying statements are disgusting. But good we live in a place where you can voice your opinion. You can't in Iran. Nor could you be a gay blogger. Think about it before you write such filth.
So you're ok with a repressive despotic regime with a documented history of supporting terrorists getting their hands on nuclear weapons? Ok, feel free to move there. While we're at it, what exactly is "genocidal" about targeted attacks against senior military leaders?
Oh brother... the headline by Ben was accurate and perfectly fine.....
goddamn this is the most cursed comments section on this website in a hot minute: antisemitism, islamophobia, standard-issue conservative dreck, the works
LOL. Indeed!
The thing that pis*s me off the most is when some Joe Schmoe who knows nothing about others starts insulting their intelligence just because they have a different opinion
"conservative dreck"?
Oh you mean logic and reason.
And there is no such thing as islamophobia. The fear of islamofascism is bot real and legitimate.
just to be clear, Israeli airspace was closed so no flights made it to Israel at the time of the attacks, including those of El Al.
Obviously DL and UA as well as LY from the US have decided they have sufficient backup plans in the case of the need to immediately suspend service. Presumably DL and UA crews will be out on the first LY flights that operate.
the bigger issue for the...
just to be clear, Israeli airspace was closed so no flights made it to Israel at the time of the attacks, including those of El Al.
Obviously DL and UA as well as LY from the US have decided they have sufficient backup plans in the case of the need to immediately suspend service. Presumably DL and UA crews will be out on the first LY flights that operate.
the bigger issue for the world is that crude oil spiked sharply overnight on fears that this could escalate beyond Israel and Iran.
The US domestic industry and much of the industry was still in the midst of fragile recovery and sustained high fuel prices will eliminate profits at a number of airlines on top of higher labor costs.
It's not really a big deal, but DL waited far longer than the coast of Newfoundland to divert. I have the screenshot from Flightradar24 at least two hours after the news broke of the DL flight closer to Ireland than Canada. It took them quite some time to make a decision on the diversion.
“Israel is a lucrative market for US airlines”
Hmmm… why would that be, I wonder.
Perhaps it’s because it’s a land of western colonisers who - like all white colonisers before them - stole the land by force, treat the indigenous population as sub-human, and cry victim when met with the same resistance any of us would put up if in the same situation.
Reunify Palestine and abolish the racist apartheid state. Now.
Is that not what the Muslims are threatening to do presently, Reunify?
Grow up and try to obtain an understanding of the history of the area.
Nah, not really. Palestinians are not just Muslims. Someone with a true understanding of the area would know that.
Aaron, one is perfectly aware of what you are trying to say, however, how many none Muslim Palestinians are involved in terrorist activity in the area?
How many none Muslim Palestinians are supporting the Palestinian Hamas terrorists? As you pretend to be so knowledgeable, please enlighten us all.
First, there is no such thing as palestine.
Second, white colonizers have brought civilization to savages for hundreds of years.
If it wasn't for white colonizers most of your browns would still be living in mud huts.
You're welcome.
So this really gets to the heart of it. White supremacist BS. That’s the foundation for Israel. The fact you are unashamed to spout such vile racism really says a lot about you.
I wish for you whatever you wish for Palestinians and all people of colour globally.
In actuality, TLV is lucrative because Israel is a hotbed of technology and westerners prefer visiting a nice nation with freedom and rights. Before your inevitable response, please provide the number of Jews in Gaza, Ramallah, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon etc. There are 2 million Arab citizens of Israel that work in Banking, medical fields and more.
Your post is disgusting.
Genocide and ethnic cleansing is disgusting
Go Israel! Doing the world a favor eliminating these clowns.
Should have booked ELAL.
If anyone is still defending Israel, they need a reality check. They are in a forever war of Netanyahu and his goons of religious fundamentalist’s makings with no end goal but to stay in power by creating a never ending geopolitical crisis
…. and your alternative solution is Eve?
A reunified Palestine with equal rights for all
Thank you James, for demonstrating to the readers of this blog that you have absolutely no inclination about what you post, think or believe.
…. and your alternative solution is Eve?
My alternative solution is not commenting the same comment twice
That aside Eve, furthermore, you obviously have absolutely nothing of note to add except your blatant disregard for the history of the area. Get an education before you attack the keyboard again is your best option. Antisemitism is rife herein.
Please give me your justification for the 55000 people killed in Gaza since their operations began, by most estimate is undercounted and more the 2/3 are civilians with at least 15000 children. Is it fake news to you?
Eve, quality your figures with actual facts.
Then justify the Palestinian Hamas terrorist atrocities against innocent Jewish babies, children and civilians. Justify the taking of Jewish hostages, steeling food aid from the mouths of Palestinian children by the Palestinian Hamas terrorists.
Give it up Eve, you are nothing more than an embarrassment, a Palestinian Hamas terrorist propaganda swallower.
You have not answered me at all about the 55000+ killed including 2/3 civilians and 15000+ children. Stop it Aero, you are the most bs person here. At least Timmy is open about his DL lunacy but you hide under a vile of high horse fakery
You behave you know a lot but trust me, from your history of comments, I know you are just full of bs with no solutions of your own but to spew your ego and bs
One again Eve, I must thank you for committing to print your total lack of historical facts about Israel, the lands surrounding it and the ill intentions of those (like you?) who seek to wipe Israel, plus the people of Israel off the face of the earth.
@AeroB13a,
Take a deep breath. I am sure you have considerable understanding of the "historical facts about Israel" and all that. Questioning someone's intelligence if just because they have a different point of view, is not a good look for you. You think Israel is justified in what it's doing. We get it. That doesn't mean everybody else here have to surrender to the supremacy of your views.
If killing children is a Jewish value, then yeah I’m anti that.
But Judaism and Zionism are not the same. The former is a thousands years old peaceful religion and the latter is a fascist racist ideology
As long as the US keeps funding them with your tax dollars, they will make noise in the region.
Take away the teet, and Israel crumbles.
But as long as US money keeps it afloat militarily and economically, nothing will change. The goons you mentioned thrive on chaos and war.
Israel is taking out the trash.
Good for them. I support them and support bibi.
US airlines should stop flights to Israel altogether, bad for business, bad for human rights.
…. and capitulation is your only solution Steven?
Capitulation to what? The demand that Israel stop their 77+ year campaign of violently stealing Palestinian land?
Thank you, Reunify, thank you for humiliating yourself on this blog. You have proven yourself totally ignorant of the history of Judea.
By claiming the “Israel stop their 77+ year campaign of violently stealing Palestinian land”. You demonstrate that you have no comprehension whatsoever about time …. surely even you must be aware of the fact that millions of years is a longer length of time than a mere “77+” years?
You deliberately,...
Thank you, Reunify, thank you for humiliating yourself on this blog. You have proven yourself totally ignorant of the history of Judea.
By claiming the “Israel stop their 77+ year campaign of violently stealing Palestinian land”. You demonstrate that you have no comprehension whatsoever about time …. surely even you must be aware of the fact that millions of years is a longer length of time than a mere “77+” years?
You deliberately, or, in ignorance, fail to recognise the FACT that the people of the Jewish faith have occupied the area of the Middle East known as the Lavant for millennia. You are in a hole and would be best advised to stop digging!
@AeroB13a, I think it is clear where your sympathies lie, and I am quite alright with that. However, it gets tiresome really quick, if you keep questioning everyone's comprehension of "historical facts" about Israel and its surroundings. You have a point and you made it. Time to move on.
No, actually. The majority of modern Jews do not have any DNA that indicates heritage to the ME. (Why do you think it’s illegal to have a DNA test in Israel…?)
Whereas almost all modern Palestinians have DNA from the Levante.
2,000 year-old Bible stories are not land deeds. Do you not hear how crazy you sound when you claim that?
If we’re talking about relative time, let’s remember that Judaism is thousands of...
No, actually. The majority of modern Jews do not have any DNA that indicates heritage to the ME. (Why do you think it’s illegal to have a DNA test in Israel…?)
Whereas almost all modern Palestinians have DNA from the Levante.
2,000 year-old Bible stories are not land deeds. Do you not hear how crazy you sound when you claim that?
If we’re talking about relative time, let’s remember that Judaism is thousands of years old whereas Zionist, which is a brutal racist ideology, is only 150yo and was roundly rejected by the vast majority of Jews until the middle of the 29th century.
That land is Jewish land and it's occupied by low IQ arab squatters.
Time to "decolonize" that land and give back to its rightful Jewish owners.
@AndyS
I guess by that logic we should also give everything east of the Mississippi river and along the Colorado river to the indigenous tribes we forced out. After all, according to you it's their land and we're just colonizers.
So they will also stop flying to the other Middle Eastern countries with worse human rights records, right? Maybe nix China while we're at it?
Hi Ben,
I know this is irrelevant on this article but I wanted to share a link with you of an X account of an Indian passenger who flew on that crashed Air India 787-8 on a flight from Delhi to Ahmadabad earlier that day before that same plane was used on the flight from Ahmadabad to London where it crashed after take off. He mentioned that he noticed a lot of malfunctions in...
Hi Ben,
I know this is irrelevant on this article but I wanted to share a link with you of an X account of an Indian passenger who flew on that crashed Air India 787-8 on a flight from Delhi to Ahmadabad earlier that day before that same plane was used on the flight from Ahmadabad to London where it crashed after take off. He mentioned that he noticed a lot of malfunctions in the IFE system and some other issues in the plane.
https://x.com/akku92/status/1933114664923148455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1933114664923148455%7Ctwgr%5Ef870a232b3aef3d5178b00c9f02480bd295f52aa%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsimpleflying.com%2Fpassenger-video-air-india-boeing-787-8-power-malfunctions%2F
It could be related somehow, but a malfunctioning IFE isn’t really that unusual.
The AC was also not working.
I hate Israel so so much. It's such an awful country
Agreed. Let them take care of themselves. Which apparently they are happy to do. But stop all aid.
Exactly JRG, and now is the time to take away the teet, Trump is wild, and if he throws a tantrum, and stops sending them money and weapons, thats the end of that.
To Michael, JRG and all the other ill informed individuals who post here I say this:
Rather than bumping your gums and thumping your keyboards in defence of those who would continue the work of the Nazis in WWll, take some time out to educate yourselves in the history of the persecution of the Jewish people. Go back a couple of millennia for the first recorded instances of persecution, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Follow...
To Michael, JRG and all the other ill informed individuals who post here I say this:
Rather than bumping your gums and thumping your keyboards in defence of those who would continue the work of the Nazis in WWll, take some time out to educate yourselves in the history of the persecution of the Jewish people. Go back a couple of millennia for the first recorded instances of persecution, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Follow the path of history to the present day and tell all who read this blog why you still “Hate Israel so much”.
Tell everyone how you would react to knowing that all around you are religious fanatics who are trying to exterminate you.
Tell everyone how you would feel knowing that your family and friends have recently been butchered by religious fanatics.
Tell everyone how you would feel knowing that in a neighbouring country, the regime leadership, is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons so that they can carry out their threat to use them against you and your family.
Only Muslim religious fanatics and terrorists proclaim that they “Hate Israel so much”.
Feel ashamed of yourselves and the ignorance of what you post.
@AeroB13a
Atrocity should never be answered with atrocity, because that's only ever going to beget more atrocities. But unfortunately, it's been the Israeli modus operandi for several decades now to ratchet up the pressure on Palestine, act surprised when Palestinians react violently, and then use that as an excuse to commit further atrocities. That's not to excuse the violent acts committed by Hamas on Oct 7th or prior, but any fair-minded individual can see...
@AeroB13a
Atrocity should never be answered with atrocity, because that's only ever going to beget more atrocities. But unfortunately, it's been the Israeli modus operandi for several decades now to ratchet up the pressure on Palestine, act surprised when Palestinians react violently, and then use that as an excuse to commit further atrocities. That's not to excuse the violent acts committed by Hamas on Oct 7th or prior, but any fair-minded individual can see that Israel has all the power in that relationship. If Palestinians don't fight back, Israel continues to slowly illegally take land Palestinians have inhabited for centuries for Israel's own settlers. If Palestinians do fight back, Israel uses that as an excuse to cut off food, water, and electricity and indiscriminately attack civilians under the guise of killing "terrorists".
Israel is the party that needs to take a step back, reign in its far right wing (throwing Netanyahu in jail would be a good start), and actually commit itself to a peaceful solution rather than bombing Gaza every time Hamas launches a rocket. The saddest part about all of this post-Oct 7th is that we KNOW Israel is capable of targeted, minimum-collateral retaliation against the people who actually planned and executed attacks on Israel. I'm referring to the Hezbollah pager attack. By comparison, their behavior in Gaza is an abhorrent collective punishment with no regard for whether people actually participated in the Oct 7th attack, and they're doing that INTENTIONALLY. We know they can do better, but they chose not to.
Dusty, please be advised that it was the liberal westerner who condemned Rhodesia, South Africa, almost every other African country, Central America, the South American countries, Asia and Pacific Islands, etc, etc, to revert to almost medieval standards under self rule.
It is the liberal westerner who condemns Israel for defending itself and its people.
It is the liberal westerner who condones the barbarous terrorist acts of the Palestinian Hamas terrorists, as long...
Dusty, please be advised that it was the liberal westerner who condemned Rhodesia, South Africa, almost every other African country, Central America, the South American countries, Asia and Pacific Islands, etc, etc, to revert to almost medieval standards under self rule.
It is the liberal westerner who condemns Israel for defending itself and its people.
It is the liberal westerner who condones the barbarous terrorist acts of the Palestinian Hamas terrorists, as long as they carry out their atrocities against the Jewish people of Israel.
It is the liberal westerner who swallows the Islamic propaganda about Israel, whilst choosing to ignore the true facts.
Shame be upon the liberal westerner who is blinded by the truth and clarity of their folly.
@AeroB13a
Really giving up the game here by defending apartheid states like Rhodesia and South Africa. Are you also drinking the "Afrikaner Farmer Genocide" koolaid? And I never condoned Palestine's acts, despite you trying to put words in my mouth here. Though you're absolutely condoning Israel leveling entire city blocks full of civilians, so maybe check that double standard of yours.
It seems to me that if Egypt and Jordan were able to...
@AeroB13a
Really giving up the game here by defending apartheid states like Rhodesia and South Africa. Are you also drinking the "Afrikaner Farmer Genocide" koolaid? And I never condoned Palestine's acts, despite you trying to put words in my mouth here. Though you're absolutely condoning Israel leveling entire city blocks full of civilians, so maybe check that double standard of yours.
It seems to me that if Egypt and Jordan were able to work past their differences and reach cordial relations with Israel, there's no reason Palestine couldn't if Israel actually tried. But Israel doesn't seem to want peace with Palestine, they want to annex it and eject the people who live there in the same way Hitler wanted to eject eastern Europeans for his own Lebensraum project.
Dusty, I am seriously surprised by your version of what you believe has happened in Israel.
Prior to the Palestinian Hamas terrorist attacks upon the innocent babies, children, and adult Israelis, in October last year, was the IDF actively engaged in preemptive strikes against Palestinians?
How many Palestinian Hamas rockets, drones, etc, have Israelis to endure before they are allowed to defend themselves?
You falsely claim that “Israel doesn't seem to want...
Dusty, I am seriously surprised by your version of what you believe has happened in Israel.
Prior to the Palestinian Hamas terrorist attacks upon the innocent babies, children, and adult Israelis, in October last year, was the IDF actively engaged in preemptive strikes against Palestinians?
How many Palestinian Hamas rockets, drones, etc, have Israelis to endure before they are allowed to defend themselves?
You falsely claim that “Israel doesn't seem to want peace with Palestine”, whatever gave you that idea? Palestinian Hamas terrorist propaganda machine perhaps?
Quite obviously you do not appreciate the fact that no Palestinian needed to die had the Palestinian Hamas terrorists not invaded Israel.
Quite obviously you do not appreciate the fact that no Palestinian needed to die once the Palestinian Hamas terrorists had released all of the hostages.
The Palestinian Hamas terrorists are simply the dogs of the Iranian regime who are sponsoring a proxy war against Israel.
Most nazis hate Israel we know.
@Michael, do you also hate the other various repressive Arab countries in the Middle East, or just the sole country that, among other things, allows freedom of speech, open elections, and in which there is no risk of prosecution because of sexual orientation?
According to Israeli media, UA and DL crews left israel onboard some of the Israeli airlines whose planes left to Europe.