Delta Airlines to restart Tel Aviv flights in June
All Delta flights to Ben-Gurion Airport were suspended on March 14.
By EYTAN HALONDelta Air Lines Airbus A319 plane on the tarmac at LAX in Los Angeles(photo credit: REUTERS/LUCY NICHOLSON)Delta Airlines plans to restart flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Ben-Gurion Airport in early June, becoming the latest international carrier to announce the renewal of flights.The announcement comes as the US airline plans to renew many international services, including to various transatlantic and transpacific destinations. Delta Airlines flights to Ben-Gurion Airport were suspended on March 14.While an official statement from the carrier only said flights would be “less than daily,” tickets currently are available commencing June 6 for four nonstop flights per week.Customers and employees will be required to wear a protective mask or suitable covering throughout the journey, and capacity on airplanes will be reduced to 50%-60% to decrease crowding.Fellow US airline United Airlines has continued flying to Ben-Gurion Airport from Newark Liberty International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.Earlier this week, German airline Lufthansa said it would operate a total of six weekly flights from Frankfurt and Munich to Ben-Gurion Airport, commencing June 2. Lufthansa Group subsidiaries Austrian Airlines, Swiss Air Lines and Brussels Airlines are yet to announce the renewal of flights.Low-cost airline Ryanair is expected to return to Ben-Gurion Airport in July, shuttling passengers to and from various European destinations after announcing it would restore 40% of its normal flight schedule from July 1.Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia all remain grounded, except for a series of “special” one-off flights operated by El Al.While many other major airlines are reportedly considering the renewal of flights to Israel, a major factor in their decision-making is said to be the ban on foreign nationals entering Israel and the 14-day isolation period for all arrivals. The current restrictions are set to expire on May 31.Representatives from the Health Ministry, Civil Aviation Authority and domestic airlines reportedly met on Tuesday to continue discussions over enabling flights to several destinations with low infection rates, without passengers required to enter quarantine upon return.
