United Airlines and Delta Airlines canceled flights to Tel Aviv this week amid rising tensions in the region, the companies announced separately on Wednesday.
United will suspend all service to Tel Aviv until further notice, a United spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill, citing “security reasons” for the decision.
The suspension begins Wednesday evening, with a flight from Newark Liberty International Airport. United typically offers two flights daily from Newark to Tel Aviv, the spokesperson said.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation and will make decisions on resuming service with a focus on the safety of our customers and crews,” the spokesperson said.
Delta will suspend service through this Friday, Aug. 2, “due to ongoing conflict in the region.” Sales are suspended for the four flights, two round-trips, that had been scheduled through Friday.
Delta also has issued travel waivers for those who booked flights to or from Israel’s major airport in Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, through Sept. 6. The new tickets must be issued by Aug. 14.
“Delta is continuously monitoring the evolving security environment and assessing our operations based on security guidance and intelligence reports and will communicate any updates as needed,” the press release said.
Delta said travelers can still book flights through its partner airlines.
El Al, Israel’s main airline, said that as of Wednesday night, “our flight schedule is operating as normal.”
The cancelations come amid rising concerns of an all-out war – as Iran and its proxies vow to punish Israel for the apparent assassination of top Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, bringing the two countries closer to an all-out war in the Middle East.
Israel has not claimed credit for the strike in Iran, but officials have previously stated one of its primary goals in the war against Hamas is the death of its top leaders, including Haniyeh.
