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…
Continue reading: Delta Resuming Flights To Tel Aviv, Israel, As Of September 1, 2025 (Again)
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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 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.
One is astounded that the real Tim Dunn, would ever post such claptrap. The boggle definitely minds …. 🙂
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?
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......
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.
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.
You missed the important part of why Israel destroyed that airport. And the part where Israel contributed to building it attempt to reach peace.
@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.
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.
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.
People who appreciate history and ancient architecture, etc, etc.
Only dinosaurs ignore their past and only the ignorant are unwilling to explore new horizons.
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.
Have you forgotten how this episode started on 10/7?
Israel has freedom of religion and a gay parade. Try those in Gaza!
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.
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.