United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: UAL) has made a significant announcement regarding its plans to restart direct flights to Israel. This move makes United Airlines the first U.S. carrier to resume flights to Israel since the Gaza war in October.
According to Reuters, United Airlines is set to restart direct flights to Israel in early March, with flights from Newark to Tel Aviv. This decision comes after the other two major U.S. carriers, American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) and Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL), had suspended their services to Israel following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7.
United Airlines, based in Chicago, will reinstate daily nonstop service to Tel Aviv from Newark on Mar. 6, using a Boeing 787-10. However, the airline does not plan to resume flights from other U.S. cities until at least the fall. Other airlines like Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Aegean, and Air France have also restarted flights to Tel Aviv.
The decision to restart U.S. carrier flights to Tel Aviv could signal a turning point for travel to Israel, which had seen a significant drop in tourism due to security concerns following the Hamas attack and the subsequent Israeli bombardment of Gaza. United Airlines stated that it conducted a detailed safety analysis in making this decision, including working closely with security experts and government officials in the United States and Israel.
The resumption of flights to Israel by U.S. carriers is a significant development following the events of October. Several global airlines, including United, had suspended their flights to Tel Aviv due to security concerns after the Hamas attack. The decision to resume flights could indicate an improvement in the security situation in the region.
However, the situation in Israel remains complex. The World Food Program recently suspended food deliveries to northern Gaza due to escalating chaos, raising concerns about a potential famine. In response to the rising tensions, the United States proposed a UN resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, marking a significant shift in its approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
UAL shares closed 1.36% higher at $44.05 on Wednesday, according to data from Benzinga Pro. The resumption of flights to Israel by United Airlines and other carriers could have broader implications for the region and the travel industry as a whole.
