Four Airlines Expand Flights From Israel With New Routes and Increased Capacity
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
United Airlines and Etihad Airways are expanding flight options from Israel. United is adding direct flights to Chicago and Washington, with San Francisco planned for 2027, while Etihad is increasing seat capacity on its Tel Aviv-Abu Dhabi route with larger aircraft. British Airways and Iberia are also set to resume flights to London and Madrid. These expansions are occurring as foreign airlines gradually return to the Israeli market, though flight schedules remain contingent on security situations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- United Airlines is adding flights to Chicago and Washington from Tel Aviv.
- Etihad Airways will use larger planes on its Tel Aviv-Abu Dhabi route, increasing capacity by 11.3%.
- British Airways and Iberia plan to resume flights to London and Madrid respectively.
- Etihad remains the sole airline flying between Israel and the UAE.
- Flight schedules remain dependent on security conditions and escalation risks.
Passengers flying from Israel will soon have more direct flight options to the United States and connecting routes through Abu Dhabi. United Airlines is adding two new U.S. destinations to its existing flights to Newark, while Etihad Airways is increasing capacity on its Tel Aviv-Abu Dhabi route, maintaining its position as the sole carrier operating between Israel and the UAE. Starting October 26, United will offer four weekly flights from Tel Aviv to Chicago, and from October 28, three weekly flights to Washington. These will complement the two daily flights to Newark. United had resumed its Newark service on September 9 after a suspension due to the "Lion's Roar" operation. A further expansion is planned for March 30, 2027, with the intended resumption of flights to San Francisco. United's U.S. hubs will also serve as transfer points for onward travel.
Etihad is enhancing its service by deploying a larger aircraft on one of its daily flights. Beginning November 9, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 316 seats will replace the Airbus A321 (188 seats) on the 2:00 PM flight from Ben Gurion Airport. This change will increase Etihad's daily seat capacity from Israel by approximately 11.3%, from 1,128 to 1,256 seats, while maintaining six daily flights. The Abu Dhabi route is utilized for connections to Eastern countries.
The increase in capacity comes amid the continued suspension of Flydubai flights to Israel following a September 30, 2026, attempted terror attack on a Tel Aviv-bound flight. Israeli carriers have also not yet received approval to resume flights to the Emirates, leaving Etihad as the sole air link between the two nations. On European routes, British Airways and Iberia are expected to return after suspending flights during the "Lion's Roar" operation. Both airlines planned to resume daily flights to London and Madrid respectively on October 25. British Airways' service will be halved from its previous twice-daily frequency. The return of these carriers will broaden flight options to Europe, though the total number of additional seats will depend on aircraft types and availability. Price impacts will also be influenced by competitor activity and anticipated holiday season demand.
The expansion of flights reflects a gradual return of foreign airlines to the Israeli market and demand for connecting travel. However, flight schedules remain subject to security conditions and the risk of escalation.
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