(TEL AVIV) Delta Air Lines will resume daily nonstop flights between New York–JFK and Tel Aviv on September 1, 2025, ending a summer suspension tied to security risks around Ben Gurion Airport. The airline confirmed the restart and opened bookings across its channels and partners.
This move restores a key transatlantic link for families, students, and business travelers who rely on the JFK–TLV corridor. It also signals renewed, but cautious, confidence in operations to Israel after months of reduced service.
Service Resumes September 1
The route will be flown with the Airbus A330-900neo and four cabins — Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+, and Main Cabin — on a daily schedule.
Seats are open for sale on Delta Air Lines channels and through partners Air France and KLM, giving travelers more ways to ticket journeys that start or end beyond New York-JFK. As September begins, El Al, Arkia, and United Airlines will also serve JFK–TLV, while American Airlines keeps its suspension in place. Capacity, while improving, remains tight compared with pre-crisis levels.
Delta paused the New York-JFK–Tel Aviv route multiple times over the past two years as violence flared in Israel and the wider region. The most recent halt began in June 2025 after a missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport and a rise in threats tied to conflicts involving Iran and Iran-backed groups such as the Houthis in Yemen.
Many European carriers, including Lufthansa, SWISS, Ryanair, British Airways, and Air France-KLM, also pulled flights. That squeeze on supply pushed fares upward on the remaining services.
Delta says the safety of passengers and crew comes first, and the company will keep watching conditions with security partners. Schedules may still change on short notice if risks rise again.
Travelers should:
– Check flight status often.
– Enroll in alerts.
– Review the latest official guidance before heading to the airport.
For country-level security information and entry guidance for Israel, the United States 🇺🇸 Department of State maintains an updated advisory at travel.state.gov.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Delta returning to the market should spread demand across more departures and reduce the need for last-minute detours through Europe. United Airlines’ earlier Newark–Tel Aviv resumption on July 21 made it the first U.S. carrier back on the route; Delta’s move positions it as the second large U.S. player restoring a nonstop option from the New York area.
Industry watchers expect the restart to ease some pressure on prices and seating on this high-demand corridor, especially with the Jewish holiday period approaching.
Rebooking Rules and Passenger Options
Delta’s travel waiver remains in effect for customers affected by the summer cancellations. Key provisions:
- Rebook in the same fare class by November 15, 2025, with no fare difference.
- If travel cannot fit those dates or classes, cancel and apply the unused ticket value toward a new booking within one year of the original issue date.
- Change fees are waived for trips rebooked after November 15, 2025; fare differences may apply.
- Keep checking your reservation and sign up for flight notifications in case schedules shift again.
Customers who need help beyond online tools should:
– Contact Delta’s phone support or visit a ticket counter well before departure.
– If your trip includes connections via New York-JFK or Europe, check minimum connection times and consider longer layovers given the possibility of disruptions.
– Hold backup options on flexible tickets if you have urgent family or business needs.
Important policy notes:
– Many policies cover schedule changes but not war-related risks, so read the terms closely.
– Keep all airline messages, receipts, and time-stamped screenshots of itinerary changes.
Broader Market and Policy Context
Israel’s Transportation Ministry has faced calls from foreign airlines to declare a special security situation, a step that could change how passenger compensation rules apply during disruptions. That discussion continues as carriers weigh risks and costs.
For travelers, the key point is that schedules in and out of Tel Aviv can shift quickly when security alerts rise. Practical advice:
– Keep plans flexible.
– Store copies of tickets and receipts.
– Be ready to accept reroutes offered by airlines if operational limits require adjustments on the day of travel.
Current market snapshot:
– United Airlines: operating Newark–Tel Aviv.
– El Al and Arkia: maintain schedules on the New York–Tel Aviv market.
– American Airlines: remains suspended until further notice.
The added supply should help, but demand continues to outpace seats on many dates. Families trying to reunite, students starting semesters, and Israeli-Americans balancing work in both countries have particularly felt the strain of limited options. Extra nonstop capacity from New York-JFK matters for these groups because it cuts total travel time and reduces missed connections.
Aircraft and partnership details:
– Delta will deploy widebody aircraft with lie-flat seats in Delta One and extra space in Premium Select.
– Comfort+ and Main Cabin provide more affordable options.
– Partnerships with Air France and KLM allow one-ticket itineraries that combine domestic U.S. flights into New York-JFK with the transatlantic leg.
Booking on a single ticket can reduce risk if a delay impacts a connection, since airlines generally protect through-ticketed passengers first when rebooking during irregular operations.
Looking ahead, airlines will keep reviewing intelligence and airspace constraints. Further suspensions or timetable shifts are possible if conditions worsen.
Market outlook:
– Competition may grow in 2026, when Israir aims to enter the JFK–TLV market in April.
– Near-term capacity may still lag demand while risk levels remain elevated.
For now, Delta Air Lines’ return on September 1, 2025 restores a familiar option, yet the cautious message stands: stay flexible, monitor advisories, and confirm details repeatedly in the days leading up to departure.
Traveler Checklist and Practical Tips
- Passports: Ensure enough validity for both directions.
- U.S. visa or ESTA: Confirm any required permissions.
- Contacts: Keep family and employer contact details handy.
- Documentation: Carry copies of return tickets, hotel bookings, and travel plans for border officers.
- Arrival times: Arrive early at Tel Aviv and New York-JFK; extra screening and traffic can lengthen airport lines during peaks.
- Connection planning: Allow extra time for connections and consider flexible tickets or backup options.
Key takeaway: Delta’s restart brings important capacity back to the JFK–TLV corridor, but security-driven disruptions remain a real possibility. Plan carefully, keep documentation accessible, and monitor official advisories and flight notifications closely.
This Article in a Nutshell
Delta Air Lines will resume daily nonstop New York–JFK to Tel Aviv flights on September 1, 2025, using the Airbus A330-900neo with four cabins. Tickets are available through Delta, Air France, and KLM; United, El Al, and Arkia also operate on the JFK–TLV corridor while American Airlines remains suspended. The restart follows multiple pauses after regional security incidents, most recently a June 2025 missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport and threats tied to Iran and affiliated groups. Delta’s travel waiver allows rebooking in the same fare class by November 15, 2025, or use of unused ticket value within one year. Travelers should monitor flight alerts, check State Department guidance, allow extra connection time, and keep documentation accessible. The added capacity should relieve some pressure on fares and seating, but demand may still exceed supply and schedules can change quickly if risks rise.
