After months of suspended service due to security concerns surrounding the Iran war, United Airlines is moving forward with plans to resume operations in Israel. The American carrier has notified its local suppliers to prepare for the return of flights between Tel Aviv and New York.
According to the update, United is expected to resume operations on September 8, with two daily flights between Tel Aviv and Newark operated by Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Tickets are already available for the carrier’s return, with a Tel Aviv-Newark flight on September 9 starting at approximately $1,059. Just one week later, however, fares jump considerably, with tickets on the same route starting at $1,662—an indication of the strong demand for flights between Israel and the United States.
United’s return is particularly notable as other major U.S. airlines continue to delay their resumption of service to Israel. Delta Air Lines has also announced plans to resume its Israel route during September, while American Airlines has postponed its return until March. For now, United remains on schedule with the timetable it previously announced.
The New York route is one of the most popular among Israeli travelers, but in recent months it has suffered from a significant shortage of available seats following cancellations by American carriers. El Al and Arkia currently operate most of the regular service on the route, contributing to high demand and relatively elevated ticket prices.
Competition on the route is also expected to increase in the coming months. Israir recently received approval from Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority to operate Airbus A330 aircraft and is expected to eventually begin service to the United States once it completes the certification process required for U.S. routes.
If the necessary approvals are granted, the New York market could become significantly more competitive, increasing seat availability for Israeli passengers and potentially easing some of the pressure that has kept transatlantic fares high.