Delta Airlines Resumes Flights to Tel Aviv, Becomes First U.S. Carrier to Return Following Houthi Missile Attack

By: Fern Sidman

In a bold and closely watched move, Delta Air Lines resumed its nonstop flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Tel Aviv on Tuesday, becoming the first U.S. airline to reestablish service to Israel following the May 4 Houthi missile attack that briefly grounded air traffic at Ben-Gurion International Airport. As reported by VIN News, Delta’s return marks a major turning point for U.S. aviation operations in the region and a vote of confidence in Israel’s resilience and aviation security.

The Atlanta-based airline, which had suspended service in response to regional instability, confirmed to JNS and VIN News that the first resumed flight departed JFK Tuesday afternoon, with the return leg from Tel Aviv scheduled for early Wednesday. Delta’s daily nonstop route to Israel is now officially back in operation, and all flights through next week are fully booked, the airline told JNS—a strong signal of pent-up demand from travelers despite lingering safety concerns.

“Delta’s decision to move first among U.S. carriers reflects both strategic confidence and recognition of the critical demand for transatlantic service to Israel,” VIN News noted in its reporting.

Delta’s move puts pressure on its domestic competitors—United Airlines and American Airlines, both of which have yet to resume service to Israel. United, which operates out of Newark Liberty International Airport and typically offers two daily flights to Tel Aviv, announced this week that it will not resume service until mid-June, extending its temporary suspension amid continued regional volatility.

In a statement to the media, United emphasized its ongoing caution: “We continue to closely monitor the situation and will make decisions on resuming service with a focus on the safety of our customers and crew,” the airline said.

American Airlines, based in Dallas, remains entirely absent from the Israeli market, having suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv since October 7, 2023, following the Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel that initiated the ongoing war in Gaza. The airline has not yet announced a return date, and industry analysts suggest American may be the last of the “big three” U.S. carriers to resume service to the Jewish state.

“The longer American Airlines stays out of the market, the more ground it loses in customer loyalty and regional relevance,” VIN News observed.

Delta’s decision comes just two weeks after the Houthi rebel group in Yemen launched a long-range missile that landed near Ben-Gurion Airport, shaking public confidence in the safety of international flights to Israel. The missile breached Israeli and U.S. missile defense systems, prompting a new wave of cancellations by foreign airlines that had only recently begun to resume postwar service to Israel.

The May 4 attack, which followed months of drone and missile barrages from Iranian-backed militias in Yemen, was widely viewed as a serious escalation in the regional threat matrix, yet Israeli aviation authorities have emphasized that airspace defenses and contingency protocols remain robust.

Delta’s return suggests the carrier has confidence in both Israel’s airspace control and its own security assessments, and many in the pro-Israel business and travel sectors welcomed the move.

“Delta has demonstrated tremendous leadership by returning to Tel Aviv now,” one aviation analyst told VIN News. “They understand the strategic and symbolic importance of being first, and they’re going to benefit from the loyalty of the Israeli-American travel community.”

Despite the military threats, demand for travel to Israel remains strong, as indicated by the fully booked Delta flights for the next week, according to company officials. This includes a mix of family travel, business professionals, diplomats, and religious pilgrims, all eager to reconnect with the country as international borders stabilize.

“The bookings show that people are not deterred. There is a sense that life continues, and being present in Israel matters,” VIN News reported.

Some observers have noted that Delta’s swift return may not only boost its bottom line but also enhance its public perception as a committed and courageous global carrier, especially among Jewish and pro-Israel flyers.

The resumption of Delta’s service comes as a litmus test for other international airlines weighing whether to resume or delay their Israel routes. European carriers such as Lufthansa and British Airways had also begun gradually restoring flights to Tel Aviv before the Houthi attack threw plans into limbo again.

Delta’s move may help stabilize the broader commercial aviation outlook for Israel, paving the way for other carriers to follow suit once it’s clear that Ben-Gurion Airport remains operationally secure.

Delta Air Lines’ return to Tel Aviv is far more than a simple schedule adjustment—it’s a high-stakes calculation that blends business pragmatism, strategic foresight, and symbolic solidarity with Israel. As VIN News puts it, “Delta is leading not just with its fleet, but with its values, affirming that Israel remains an essential destination for international commerce and connectivity.”

With United and American still grounded, all eyes will be on whether Delta’s confident re-entry into Israel’s airspace will spur a broader re-engagement among U.S. carriers and help restore Tel Aviv’s place as a key global aviation hub—even amid ongoing regional turbulence.