Flights to Israel Divert Amid Rising Tensions
Well, you have to wonder, how long will Delta and United keep up this tap dance to Israel, especially considering their roller-coaster reliability?
Delta & United Flights to Israel: Take Off, Land, Repeat
Trying to fly to Israel these days feels like participating in a suspense thriller, thanks to the ongoing regional tensions and pesky security concerns. Delta and United, though, still make regular attempts, probably driven by the promise of a fat revenue check.
In one of the many recent plot twists, Delta took to the skies again on May 20, 2025, and United followed shortly after on June 5, 2025. Alas, this return to service clipped its wings quicker than expected as the flights got canned soon after.
Last Thursday night, things escalated with Israel launching a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear locales. Perhaps in an attempt to preempt an expected attack from Iran, Israel went off-script, seemingly without a thumbs-up from the US. Notably, Secretary of State Marco Rubio took a step back from any such involvement by the US:
“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.”
US airlines, determined as ever, still attempted flights to Israel yesterday afternoon before the strike. Well, neither of the flights actually managed to land in Israel.
United’s flyer from Newark to Tel Aviv took a round trip worthy of a made-for-TV drama, spanning an entire Atlantic crossing, only to u-turn back to Newark, touching down at 2:38 AM this morning. As for Delta, it also decided to join the detour club; its journey from New York to Tel Aviv ended up in a similar eight-hour jaunt near Newfoundland, landing back in New York by 1:44 AM.
Both Delta and United have hit the brakes on their next few Israel flights. You might wonder what happened to the crew expected to pilot those uneventful return flights. Are they lounging on Israeli beaches, pondering their next move?
How Much Longer Can This Aerial Tango Last?
While EL AL continues its diligent service despite all tumult since October 7, 2023, many other airlines play the back-and-forth game or have simply given up.
Yes, Israel’s air market is a juicy piece of the pie, but how can airlines provide reliable service amid all this uncertainty? Just take a gander at United’s ups and downs with Tel Aviv:
- Shelved Tel Aviv flights as of July 30, 2024
- Returned to service March 15, 2025
- Took another break May 3, 2025
- Tried their luck again June 5, 2025
- Paused once more on June 13, 2025
When flights are in such a state of perpetual pause and play, does it add up financially? Or are the flights that do happen so fabulously profitable that it’s worth it?
The question is, are fleets specifically ‘earmarked’ for this volatile route, or are Delta and United just rolling the dice each time it’s feasible to fly? Planning flights can be like a Rubik’s cube especially when coordinating with hundreds of aircraft.
It seems quite unlikely that peace and quiet will settle over Israel anytime soon. Hence, maybe bracing for another long break might be the economical way forward. Then again, Delta and United might be inclined to ride out the storm, ready to jump at the chance to be the top dog when skies are clearer.
Yet, if you’re looking for a different kind of thrill, maybe check out the Val Seny ski resort.
Bottom Line
Delta and United have, once more, pressed pause on their flights to Israel, as Israel and Iran continue their tense tango. Yesterday, planes left Newark and New York with high hopes but returned home without seeing a shred of Israeli runway, leaving us with another round of pointless flights.
We’ll wait and see how this suspension game plays out. Honestly, it’d be intriguing to understand the financial matrix behind flight chaos like this.
What’s your take on the latest bumpy ride in the tale of Israel-bound flights?