Four Airlines to Resume Tel Aviv-New York Flights by September with Ticket Prices Starting at $1,400

American Airlines had planned to resume its Tel Aviv-New York route in January 2027 but has postponed the date to March 27, 2027. The airline has not operated this route regularly since October 7, 2023. In contrast, Delta and United Airlines are set to restart flights to Israel in early September, on the 5th and 7th respectively, after suspending services following the March "Roaring Lion" military operation.

Israir is also awaiting final approvals to launch its New York route soon, using newly acquired Airbus A330 aircraft. This influx of carriers is expected to significantly increase ticket availability on the route, which has been scarce in recent years. According to travel-tech company lastminute.co.il, there is now a notable improvement in last-minute ticket availability for direct flights to New York, especially in economy class, compared to last summer and holiday seasons.

Despite better availability, ticket prices remain volatile and high, with economy fares ranging from $1,460 to $3,046 depending on the airline and travel dates. For example, in early September, Arkia offers tickets at $1,722, Delta at $2,176, and El Al at $2,186. Prices tend to dip slightly during the Jewish New Year holidays for Israeli carriers but remain above $2,000 for Delta. Business class seats are still very limited, causing steep price differences, with fares ranging from $5,741 on Arkia to nearly $10,000 on United around Yom Kippur.

Demand for New York flights during the holidays has declined slightly, dropping from 2.4% of total holiday flight demand in 2025 to 2% this year, alongside an overall decrease in holiday travel demand. However, bookings for September are up by about 29% compared to August. Asaf Greenberg, marketing VP at lastminute.co.il, noted that while economy class availability has improved, the market has not fully normalized, and price disparities between airlines and dates remain significant. He emphasized the importance of flexibility and real-time price comparisons for travelers.

By August 2026, Ben Gurion Airport is expected to handle around 2.6 million passengers, with 47 airlines operating. The most popular destinations include Greece, Cyprus, Italy, the UAE, the US, and Germany. Daily passenger traffic during August weekdays is projected between 90,000 and 95,000, occasionally exceeding 100,000. This growth in flights and passengers highlights Tel Aviv's status as a leading city, though ticket prices do not yet reflect this demand fully.