National carrier El Al has announced a new direct flight route between Chicago and Tel Aviv, starting March 2020.
El Al will fly three times per week to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, with tickets due to go on sale on March 27.
The route is being launched, El Al said, after extensive dialogue with local authorities in Chicago, home to a 300,000-strong Jewish community. The carrier ended its one-stop service to Chicago in April 2007.
O'Hare & airline partners @ELALUSA announced new nonstop air service from Tel Aviv, Israel to ORD--the airport's first nonstop service to Israel in more than 20 yrs. Starting March 2020, Chicago will be the only city in Central U.S. with this air service. https://t.co/mRJbin1Q5j pic.twitter.com/JgHmuOGKyI
— O'Hare Intl. Airport (@fly2ohare) March 19, 2019
“The new route between Chicago and Israel is proof that our investment in O’Hare International Airport is paying off, as more people around the world want to come to Chicago than ever before,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
“From the Central United States to the Middle East, Chicago’s airport makes the city more accessible for travelers worldwide.”
Flights will depart Tel Aviv on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at midday and land in Chicago at 4:30 p.m. local time, after approximately 12.5 hours of flying time.
Flights will depart Chicago on the same days at 6:50 p.m. and land in Tel Aviv at 2:10 p.m. local time the following day, after 11 hours and 20 minutes flying time. The route will be served by El Al’s 282-seat Dreamliner 787-9 aircraft.
“I don’t believe there is a better way to connect the State of Israel to Chicago than direct flights between Chicago’s airport and Ben-Gurion Airport,” said Aviv Ezra, consul-general of Israel to Chicago and the Midwest.
“I wish to thank Mayor Rahm Emanuel for his leadership and his shared work with the consulate to turn this win-win vision into reality. This route brings Tel Aviv and Chicago closer, economically and culturally.”
In recent months, El Al has announced the launch of direct flights to a series of North American destinations, including Orlando, Las Vegas and San Francisco. It also serves New York City (John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty airports), Boston, Los Angeles and Miami.
“Given the growing demand from our customers, including business travelers, and following our acquisition of 16 Dreamliner aircraft, we are delighted to announce the operation of direct flights between Israel and Chicago, El Al’s ninth destination in the United States,” said El Al vice president of marketing Miki Strassburger.
“The Chicago metropolitan area, considered the third-largest in the United States, is one of the most important academic, cultural, industrial and business centers in the United States, and the city is considered a very attractive tourist and business destination,” Strassburger said.
“El Al has a special role in connecting Israel and the Diaspora, and we are happy to bring another major United States destination closer to Israel, which will enable the arrival of tens of thousands more tourists to Israel each year.”