By: Abe Wertenheim

Delta Air Lines will resume flights to Israel on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the revival of Tel Aviv as an international aviation hub following the 12-day war with Iran in June. The Atlanta-based carrier becomes the latest international airline to reintroduce service to Ben-Gurion International Airport, further underscoring what The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) has described as the “resurgence of Israel’s aviation sector” after months of disruption.

According to a Delta spokeswoman speaking to JNS, the airline will restart daily nonstop service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Tel Aviv beginning September 2. Reflecting sustained demand, Delta will also introduce a second daily frequency on the route during the peak winter holiday season, operating between November 30, 2025, and January 19, 2026. The additional service is aimed at absorbing heavy holiday traffic and reconnecting families and businesses across the Atlantic.

The move comes just six weeks after United Airlines restored flights to Israel, reestablishing itself on the high-demand New York–Tel Aviv corridor. While Delta and United have now committed to regular operations, American Airlines has notably refrained from resuming service since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault that triggered the Gaza war. As JNS has pointed out, American’s absence from Israel leaves a conspicuous gap in the U. S. market, even as its two competitors expand.

With Delta’s return, the transatlantic route from New York to Tel Aviv will now be served by four carriers: Israel’s El Al, Arkia, and the two American giants, Delta and United. Aviation analysts told JNS that this increased competition is expected to ease the historically high fares that Israeli carriers had been able to charge while operating under a near-monopoly. For travelers, particularly families and business professionals making frequent trips between Israel and the United States, the restoration of foreign carrier service offers welcome relief.

Still, much of Israel’s international connectivity has yet to be fully restored. Routes from Chicago, Washington, D. C., and San Francisco — previously served by United — as well as Boston and Atlanta, which Delta once operated, remain suspended. As a result, while supply has improved, airfares to and from New York continue to hover well above prewar levels. JNS reported that prices on the popular JFK–Tel Aviv route remain particularly inflated, reflecting lingering constraints on capacity.

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism and aviation officials have celebrated the wave of airline returns, viewing them as a barometer of international confidence in Israel’s security and stability. The upcoming months will see a further cascade of foreign carriers resuming operations. Air Baltic of Latvia and Dutch budget carrier Transavia are set to relaunch flights in September, alongside Switzerland’s Swiss International Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. In October, Air Canada, ITA Airways of Italy, British Airways, and Ryanair will also return to Israeli skies, according to schedules cited by JNS.

This rapid reengagement by global airlines reflects both the resilience of Israel’s aviation market and the enduring strategic role of Tel Aviv as a bridge between Europe, the United States, and Asia. As JNS noted, Ben-Gurion International Airport has long functioned as the country’s primary gateway to the world, and the resumption of international service following the war marks a decisive step toward normalcy.

For Delta, the move is also commercially significant. The JFK–Tel Aviv corridor is among the most lucrative long-haul routes globally, buoyed by strong business travel, robust tourism flows, and the large Jewish diaspora communities in both countries.