Delta, United and American Take Different Paths Back to Israel

NEW YORK — Delta Air Lines (DL) is scheduled to restart New York-JFK–Tel Aviv service on September 6, opening a week that could bring two U.S. airlines back to Israel. Its daily return to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) is narrower than United Airlines' (UA) planned twice-daily Newark operation. American Airlines (AA) remains on a much longer timetable.

The differences extend beyond which carrier departs first. Delta is concentrating its return at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), while other parts of its Israel network remain on hold. United plans more flights from the New York area and has announced a later West Coast return. American is leaving its own nonstop service suspended into 2027.

The schedules show how much flying each carrier is prepared to restore. They do not disclose the airlines' internal security assessments or establish why one accepts a particular restart date while another waits.

A daily Delta return, with other hubs still on hold

Delta's September plan uses the Airbus A330-900, with the first arrival in Israel and the return departure scheduled for September 7. The airline's published A330-900neo cabin accommodates 281 passengers, including 29 in Delta One and 28 in Premium Select.

The JFK restart previously reported by *Airways* would restore a daily East Coast link, with other Delta gateways still on hold.

Delta's current disruption notice keeps Atlanta (ATL) service suspended through December 18 and the Boston (BOS) launch delayed until further notice. December 18 is the stated end of a suspension period, rather than proof that an Atlanta flight will depart the next day.

Travelers waiting for an Atlanta nonstop or the Boston launch face a longer wait than those planning to use JFK.

United plans more departures—and a later West Coast return

United told The Times of Israel that it plans to resume Newark–Tel Aviv service on September 8 with two daily flights. Both would depart Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), making United's proposed return twice Delta's frequency from the same metropolitan area.

Flight.info's forward schedules list UA84 in the afternoon and UA90 in the late evening, both using Boeing 787-10s with 318 seats. The September 8 departures are scheduled to arrive in Tel Aviv the following day. Aircraft assignments and schedules remain subject to change.

On a day when both flights operate with those configurations, United would offer 636 seats from Newark, compared with Delta's 281 from JFK. That is about 2.3 times the capacity, calculated from the published seat counts and frequencies. It measures proposed seats, not bookings or market share. The afternoon and late-evening departures also give travelers two distinct departure windows.

United has separately announced three weekly San Francisco (SFO)–Tel Aviv flights from March 28, 2027. That would extend its restoration beyond the East Coast, with West Coast passengers gaining a nonstop option in United's network.

American's longer absence

American's JFK–Tel Aviv route has remained suspended since October 2023, according to reporting by *The Jerusalem Post* on its latest postponement. Its absence therefore predates the latest interruptions to Delta and United's Israel service.

American's current Israel travel alert covers affected journeys through March 26, 2027. That waiver is evidence of the disruption period; it does not by itself guarantee a March 27 launch.

There is no American-operated September frequency or aircraft deployment to place alongside Delta’s A330 and United’s planned 787s. American’s current travel alert does not specify an aircraft or frequency for its eventual return.

The Fort Worth-based carrier is forgoing its own nonstop participation in the September return. The available statements and schedules do not establish whether security considerations, aircraft allocation, commercial expectations, or a combination explain the longer delay.

Restoration remains conditional

Delta says its restart follows a review of the regional security environment and that it will continue monitoring conditions with aviation authorities and government agencies. Its decision to schedule a return is specific to its operation, rather than a general assurance about travel conditions.

The next scheduled steps are Delta’s September 7 arrival and return flight, followed by United’s September 8 Newark departures. Whether those services operate consistently will matter to passengers planning the return leg of a trip as much as the first restart date.