United Airlines Suspends All Flights to Israel Amid Rising Middle East Tensions

United Airlines has ceased all flights to Tel Aviv, interrupting its service routes between the United States and Israel due to escalating tensions and the potential threat of conflict with Iran. This decision, as reported by Deutsche Bank analysts, marks a significant disruption given the airline’s previously robust schedule including double daily services from Newark to Tel Aviv.

This suspension follows an initial halt in operations that began shortly after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which led to a severe conflict in the Gaza Strip. Initially, United had resumed flights in March and again in June but has now opted to cancel all scheduled services to Tel Aviv through July 2025, affecting routes from Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington-Dulles as well.

The cessation of these flights reflects the broader impacts of geopolitical instability in the Middle East on international air travel. United’s CEO, Scott Kirby, highlighted the financial significance of the Tel Aviv route in a recent earnings call, noting that it constituted about 2% of United Airlines’ total operations and describing it as “lucrative flying.”

The decision underscores the ongoing challenges airlines face when operating in or near conflict zones, prioritizing passenger safety amidst fluctuating security conditions. United Airlines has yet to respond to requests for comment on this development.