Foreign Airlines Expand Flights to and From Israel Amid Recovery
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Several foreign airlines, including Etihad Airways and United Airlines, are expanding their flight operations to and from Israel. Etihad is increasing seat capacity on its Tel Aviv-Abu Dhabi route with larger aircraft, while United is adding flights to Chicago and Washington, with plans for San Francisco. These expansions signal a recovery in international air travel to Israel, though schedules may be affected by security concerns.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Etihad Airways and United Airlines are expanding flight operations to and from Israel.
- Etihad is increasing seat capacity on the Tel Aviv-Abu Dhabi route with larger aircraft.
- United Airlines is adding flights to Chicago and Washington, with San Francisco service planned.
- British Airways will resume daily flights to London, a reduction from previous frequency.
- Flight schedules may change due to security developments and potential escalation.
United Airlines and Etihad Airways are increasing their flight offerings from Israel, driven by the recovery of foreign airline operations and demand for connecting flights. The airline will deploy a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, offering 316 seats compared to the Airbus A321's 188, increasing daily seat availability from Israel by approximately 11.3% to 1,256, while maintaining six daily flights. This expansion occurs while Flydubai flights to Israel remain suspended following an attempted aircraft hijacking. Israeli airlines have not yet received approval to resume flights to the Emirates, leaving Etihad as the sole carrier between the two nations.
Meanwhile, United Airlines, which restarted flights between Tel Aviv and Newark last month, will expand its U.S. network this week. Starting October 26, the airline will operate four weekly flights to Chicago, followed by three weekly flights to Washington on October 28. These routes join the two daily flights to Newark that resumed on September 9 after being halted due to Operation "Northern Shield." United also plans to reintroduce flights from Tel Aviv to San Francisco starting March 30, 2027. The expansion reflects the gradual return of foreign carriers to the Israeli market and the importance of their hubs for long-haul travel. However, schedules remain subject to change based on security developments and potential escalation.
British Airways is expected to resume daily flights to London, down from its previous two daily services. Iberia will also restart daily flights to Madrid. While the return of these carriers will increase flight options to Europe, British Airways' reduced frequency means the overall increase in seat availability depends on aircraft types and load factors. The increased competition on European routes may impact prices, contingent on other airlines' operations and winter season demand, particularly around Christmas.
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