United Airlines to Resume Flights to Israel with Enhanced Safety Measures

United Airlines has announced its decision to restart flights to Israel in March, following a suspension that began in October due to the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The airline detailed plans to initiate service from Newark, New Jersey, to Tel Aviv, with a layover in Munich on March 2 and March 4, aiming for daily operations starting March 6 and the introduction of a second daily flight by May.

This move comes after other airlines, including American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, halted their flights to Tel Aviv at the onset of the conflict and have yet to declare plans for resumption. Meanwhile, European airlines like Lufthansa, along with its affiliates Austrian Airlines and Swiss, resumed flights to Tel Aviv in January, followed by Air France, with several others indicating plans to restart their services to Israel this spring.

United Airlines emphasized that the decision to resume flights was made after conducting “a detailed safety analysis,” engaging with security experts, and consulting with government officials from both nations. The airline also highlighted its collaboration with the unions representing its pilots and flight attendants in this decision-making process.

Looking ahead, United Airlines is considering the potential to reinitiate flights to Israel from other U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Chicago, and Dulles airport near Washington, D.C., evaluating the possibility for this fall.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, abcnews.go.com