Delta and United resume direct flights from Israel to NY, driving down prices amid airline competition

There’s welcome news for travelers flying from Israel to New York. After a two-month suspension of flights due to a Houthi missile strike near Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, Delta and United Airlines have resumed their direct flights to New York.

Israel’s main international airport is once again hosting the two largest U.S. carriers. Delta resumed its JFK–Tel Aviv route on May 20, and United Airlines announced it will restart flights this Thursday, weeks ahead of its previously planned schedule.

When Delta and United abruptly halted operations in April following the missile strike, Israeli carriers El Al and Arkia became the sole operators on the route. The lack of competition led to a sharp increase in ticket prices.

Now, with both major American airlines back in service, prices are starting to drop. Ynet News reported that “for the first time in months, economy tickets are available to under $1,200" and that in June, United is offering fares “starting at $1,174, which includes both carry-on and checked luggage. In contrast, Arkia charges $2,389 for a similar flight, while El Al currently has no available economy seats for June.”

In early July, despite the peak travel season, United continues to lead the group in offering the most competitive fares, with ticket prices starting at $1,528. Delta follows with prices beginning at $2,285, while Arkia tops the chart at $3,198.

Looking ahead to the holiday week of Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 21–27), Delta emerges as the most budget-friendly option, with fares from $1,355 – significantly lower than Arkia’s $2,498 fare. For Sukkot (Oct. 6–13), the pricing shifts again, with Arkia offering the lowest rates starting at $1,398, compared to United’s $1,921.

The swift return of U.S. airlines is great news for travelers, but it comes with some degree of uncertainty. Ongoing security concerns in Israel leave the possibility of renewed suspensions on the table.

Ynet reported that in response to these concerns, both United and Delta have introduced a new “refundable economy” fare class – priced slightly higher, but offering greater flexibility for cancellations. Given the current security climate and stricter rules under Israel’s revised “Tibi Law,” these flexible fares may offer added peace of mind.

Business class pricing reveals even more dramatic differences, sometimes approaching double the cost. In June, Arkia charges $8,000 and El Al $7,950, while United undercuts both at $5,881. From July 1–7, Arkia holds steady at $8,000, El Al drops to $6,588, and United again leads with the lowest fare at $4,258.

For Rosh Hashanah, United’s business class starts at $3,397 – well below Arkia’s $6,550. During Sukkot, United offers fares from $3,671, compared to El Al’s unchanged $7,950. In many cases, two travelers can fly business class on United for the price of one seat on a competing airline.

There’s also encouraging news from European carriers Air France, Transavia and KLM, all of which have resumed service to Israel. Flights departing from the Netherlands to Israel will include a short stop in Larnaca, Cyprus, while return flights from Israel to Amsterdam will operate non-stop.

However, several airlines have continued to keep their routes to Israel suspended. Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has extended its flight cancellations until the end of July. The Lufthansa Group – which includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings – has paused operations until at least June 22, as has Italy’s ITA Airways. Spain’s Iberia Express has canceled flights until June 7.

British Airways announced it will not resume service to or from Israel until at least July 31. Other airlines extending their suspensions include Air Seychelles until at least August, LOT Polish Airlines until June 8, Air India until June 19, and easyJet until June 30.

Meanwhile, Air Canada, which had initially planned to restart service in June, has opted not to resume flights to Israel for now.

Additionally, travelers heading to Israel from abroad are strongly advised to stay vigilant and regularly check their flight status, as conditions remain fluid and reliable updates are not always readily available online. There have been reports of international passengers arriving at U.S. airports only to discover at the ticket counter that their flights to Israel had been canceled – often without prior notice. Staying informed through official airline channels and signing up for real-time alerts is highly recommended.