If you’re planning a trip and searching for which airlines are currently flying to Israel, here’s the short answer: Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) is fully open and operating, Israeli carriers are running full schedules, and foreign airline recovery has accelerated sharply in the past few weeks – Delta and United have now both confirmed early-September return dates, though a few carriers are still holding off until 2027.
Quick Answer: Airlines Flying to Israel Right Now
Ben Gurion Airport has been fully open since April 9, 2026, following the ceasefire that ended the 2026 Israel-Iran conflict. As of August 31, 2026:
- Operating full schedules: El Al, Arkia, Israir, and Air Haifa
- Operating and expanding: Lufthansa (ramping toward roughly 67 flights/week from September), KLM (Amsterdam–Tel Aviv resumed August 25), Wizz Air, Austrian Airlines, Aegean Airlines, Etihad Airways
- Confirmed return: Delta Air Lines — nonstop JFK–Tel Aviv resumes September 6, 2026, its first US route back since a February 2026 suspension (Atlanta and Boston remain paused separately — see below)
- Confirmed return: United Airlines — resuming September 8, 2026 with two daily Newark–Tel Aviv flights, plus Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles later this winter
- Confirmed return: El Al — adding a new nonstop San Francisco–Tel Aviv route from October 25, 2026
- Confirmed return: Israir — entering the US market with new New York service from October 19, 2026
- Still suspended: British Airways (resumes October 25, 2026, reduced schedule), American Airlines (suspended through March 28, 2027), Air Canada (pushed to around January 2027), Ryanair (route removed from its map entirely), easyJet (no confirmed restart date)
If you already have a ticket booked on a foreign carrier, it’s worth checking your airline’s official status page directly, since schedules have been changing week to week all summer.
Is Ben Gurion Airport Actually Open in 2026?
Yes. Ben Gurion Airport has been fully operational since April 9, 2026, with all terminal services, duty-free shops, and passenger facilities running normally. We cover this in more detail in our guide on whether Ben Gurion Airport is open in 2026.
That said, “open” hasn’t meant delay-free this summer. Ben Gurion had one of its most difficult summers in recent memory, with US military refueling aircraft occupying stands needed for passenger jets, a radar and air-traffic-control failure in Greece that cascaded across Mediterranean airspace, and the normal July–August holiday surge all hitting at once. Check summer wait times before you head to the airport if you’re flying through in the next few weeks — congestion is expected to ease as the peak passes and more carriers settle into regular timetables.
Israeli Airlines Flying to Israel in 2026
Israel’s domestic carriers were the fastest to resume full operations and currently carry the majority of all passenger traffic:
- El Al – Israel’s flag carrier, flying to more than 40 destinations including New York, Newark, Miami, Los Angeles, Boston, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Athens, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, Barcelona, Madrid, Bangkok, and Tokyo — now adding San Francisco from October 25, 2026
- Arkia – domestic and select international routes, including service to Hanoi
- Israir – regional and European routes, launching new US (New York) service from October 19, 2026
- Air Haifa – a newer carrier operating out of Haifa Airport in northern Israel
Together, Israeli carriers accounted for roughly 58% of all passenger traffic at Ben Gurion Airport last year, with El Al alone capturing about 38% of the total.
Foreign Airlines That Have Resumed Flights to Ben Gurion Airport
Foreign airline recovery accelerated through August 2026:
- Delta Air Lines – confirmed nonstop JFK–Tel Aviv restart September 6, 2026, its first US–Israel route back after a suspension that began February 28, 2026 (Atlanta service remains paused through Dec 18, 2026; Boston has no new restart date)
- United Airlines – confirmed two-daily Newark–Tel Aviv restart September 8, 2026, on Boeing 787s, with Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles to follow this winter and San Francisco targeted for March 28, 2027
- Lufthansa – expanding rather than suspended, expected to reach roughly 67 flights a week starting September 2026
- KLM – resumed its Tel Aviv–Amsterdam route August 25, 2026
- Wizz Air – resumed multiple European routes and continues to serve London alongside El Al, Israir, and Arkia
- Austrian Airlines, Aegean Airlines – operating Vienna and Athens/Greek routes respectively
- TUS Airways, Sky Express, Bluebird – regional carriers serving Cyprus and Greece
- FlyDubai, Etihad Airways – operating routes from the UAE, with Etihad continuing to expand
- Ethiopian Airlines, Hainan Airlines, ALK Airlines, Smartwings, Georgian Airways, FlyOne – resumed service from their respective home markets since spring 2026
Greece has remained one of the strongest-performing international markets for Israel-bound travel throughout the recovery, partly because of the short flight distance and high frequency of regional carriers.
Airlines Still Suspended — When Will They Resume Flights to Israel?
A handful of carriers are still holding off, though the picture has moved fast since June:
Airline | Status as of August 31, 2026 |
Delta Air Lines (JFK) | RESUMING — confirmed nonstop JFK–TLV daily from September 6, 2026 |
Delta Air Lines (Atlanta / Boston) | Atlanta–TLV paused through December 18, 2026. Boston–TLV delayed indefinitely, no new date announced. |
United Airlines | RESUMING — confirmed two daily Newark–TLV flights from September 8, 2026; Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles expected this winter; San Francisco targeted for March 28, 2027 |
British Airways | Suspended — confirmed restart October 25, 2026 with a reduced single daily service |
American Airlines | Suspended — extended through March 28, 2027 for both Tel Aviv and Doha |
Air Canada | Suspended — pushed back to around January 2027 |
Ryanair | Suspended indefinitely — has removed Tel Aviv from its route map entirely amid an unresolved dispute with Ben Gurion Airport over landing slots and terminal access |
easyJet | Suspended — has pushed back its return multiple times since 2025; no confirmed restart date currently published |
Travelers seeking nonstop North American service in the meantime can fly El Al or Arkia, or connect through European hubs on Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM, Swiss, or British Airways routings.
How to Book Flights to Israel Right Now
Because the schedule has been shifting all summer, the smartest approach isn’t to lock onto one airline’s list — it’s to build a booking strategy that adapts as more carriers come back online.
If you want the most reliable route today
- Fly with El Al, Arkia, or Israir directly — they’ve had full schedules the longest and are the least likely to see last-minute changes
- If flying from Europe, Athens is currently the busiest and best-connected route into Tel Aviv
- Book refundable or flexible fares where possible — several major carriers have changed restart dates more than once this year
If you’re waiting for a specific airline to return
- Set a fare/schedule alert directly with that airline rather than relying on third-party sites, since resumption announcements are often made with only a few weeks’ notice
- Consider booking a connecting itinerary through a European hub now, with the option to switch to a direct flight later if your preferred airline confirms a date before departure
- If you were counting on a low-cost carrier, plan around Israeli or Israel-focused airlines instead for now — Ryanair has pulled Tel Aviv from its network entirely and easyJet has no published restart date
If you’re crossing overland instead of flying for example arriving via Jordan the process and requirements are different; see our guide to crossing the Allenby Bridge.
Ben Gurion Airport's Recovery in Numbers
The data tells a clearer story than the headlines. According to the Israel Airports Authority’s 2025 annual report, Ben Gurion Airport handled approximately 19.16 million total passengers in 2025 — about 18.47 million of them on international flights, a 32–33% increase over 2024. Around 60 foreign airlines served Tel Aviv in 2025, compared to roughly 80 before the war began. Airport officials had projected around 22 million total passengers for 2026 if the recovery trend continued — a trend that the confirmed Delta and United returns this September suggest is on track.
That recovery wasn’t a straight line: passenger traffic dropped sharply in February–March 2026 during Operation Rising Lion, before rebounding through the spring and summer as the ceasefire held. By August 2026, the IAA was projecting roughly 2.6 million passengers passing through Ben Gurion for the month alone, with 47 airlines operating — a clear sign of how much capacity has returned even with this summer’s congestion.
Greece was the single largest source market by country, and Athens was the busiest individual route — a useful data point if you’re trying to find the most reliable connection in and out of Israel right now.
How to Check If Your Flight to Israel Is Affected
Given how often schedules have changed this year, don’t rely on a list (including this one) as your final word before flying. Three steps worth taking before your trip:
- Check your airline’s official app or website for same-day status, since cancellations are sometimes issued with only 24–48 hours’ notice
- Use a live tracker like FlightAware’s Ben Gurion Airport page to see real-time arrivals, departures, and delays
- Sign up for airline SMS/email alerts rather than checking manually, especially if you’re booked on a carrier still ramping back up to full schedule
Before You Book: Entry Requirements You'll Still Need
Airline schedules aside, every visitor still needs to meet Israel’s standard entry requirements. Most visa-exempt travelers, including U.S. citizens, must have an approved ETA-IL travel authorization before boarding — this hasn’t changed regardless of the current flight situation. You can read the official requirements directly from the Israeli government’s ETA-IL application portal, and we’ve put together a more practical breakdown in our ETA-IL 2026 checklist for Ben Gurion Airport.
If you’re arriving overland instead of flying, the rules differ — see our guide to crossing into Israel in 2026 for the practical steps.
Tips for a Smoother Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport
With flight volume back near pre-war levels and this summer’s congestion adding extra strain, terminals have been busier than usual. A few things that help:
- Arrive with extra buffer time, since immigration, security, and stand-availability delays can stack up on high-traffic days
Check current passport control wait times at Ben Gurion Airport before you head to the airport
If you want to avoid lines altogether, a VIP fast-track service at Ben Gurion Airport can take you through arrivals, security, and passport control without the wait — or compare VIP, Express, and Gold arrival service to see which tier fits your trip.
Is It Safe to Fly to Israel in 2026?
This is a fair question given everything happening with international carriers, and it deserves a direct answer rather than a generic one. We’ve covered the current security situation, what “safe corridor” flight protocols actually mean, and how to make an informed decision in our dedicated guide on whether Israel is safe to travel to right now.
FAQs
El Al, Arkia, Israir, and Air Haifa are operating full schedules. Delta (JFK) and United both confirmed early-September 2026 restarts, and Wizz Air, Austrian Airlines, Aegean Airlines, and several regional carriers are also flying. British Airways resumes October 25, 2026; American Airlines, Air Canada, Ryanair, and easyJet remain suspended with no near-term restart.
Yes. Ben Gurion Airport has been fully open since April 9, 2026, with all terminals, shops, and passenger services operating normally. August 2026 is one of its busiest months on record, with the IAA projecting around 2.6 million passengers and 47 airlines operating, which has meant heavier-than-usual congestion on peak days.
Delta resumes nonstop JFK–Tel Aviv service on September 6, 2026 (its Atlanta route stays paused through December 18, and Boston has no new date), and United resumes twice-daily Newark–Tel Aviv service on September 8, 2026. American Airlines has extended its suspension through March 28, 2027.
Ben Gurion’s summer 2026 delays stemmed from several overlapping factors: US military refueling aircraft occupying stands needed for passenger jets, a radar and air-traffic-control failure in Greece that disrupted Mediterranean airspace, and the normal July–August holiday travel surge, which the IAA expects to be one of the busiest in the airport’s history. Delays are expected to ease as the peak season passes.
Yes. Most visa-exempt travelers, including U.S. citizens, still need an approved ETA-IL travel authorization before boarding, regardless of which airline they fly or the current schedule situation.
El Al and Arkia currently offer the most established direct US–Israel service. Delta (JFK, from September 6) and United (Newark, from September 8) are adding nonstop options from New York/Newark. Travelers can also connect through European hubs like Athens, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt for more schedule flexibility while other US carriers continue ramping back up.
Israel Airports Authority 2025 annual report and August 2026 traffic estimates; Delta Air Lines current advisories (checked Aug 26, 2026); British Airways, United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, and Ryanair press releases and schedule updates as verified August 31, 2026. Flight status changes frequently — always confirm directly with your airline before traveling.