United and Etihad expand Israel flights as British Airways and Iberia return
United is adding routes to Chicago and Washington, and Etihad is deploying a larger aircraft on its Abu Dhabi service. The return of two European carriers will further expand international connections, although flight schedules remain subject to security developments.
United Airlines and Etihad Airways are expanding their operations on routes connecting Israel with the United States and the Gulf, increasing flight frequency and seat capacity as foreign carriers gradually return to the market. British Airways and Iberia are also expected to resume flights from Ben Gurion Airport today (Sunday), after suspending service at the start of Operation Roaring Lion.
Etihad announced Sunday that it will increase capacity on its Tel Aviv-Abu Dhabi route, which also serves as a hub for connecting flights to destinations across Asia and other parts of the East. Starting November 9, the airline will operate its daily 2 p.m. departure from Ben Gurion Airport using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner instead of an Airbus A321.
The Dreamliner offers 316 seats, compared with 188 on the A321. The aircraft change will increase Etihad's daily seat capacity on flights departing Israel from 1,128 to 1,256, a rise of approximately 11.3%. The airline will continue to operate six daily flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, or 42 per week.
The expansion comes as Flydubai's flights to Israel remain suspended following an attempted hijacking of one of the airline's aircraft. Israeli airlines have also yet to receive approval to resume flights to the United Arab Emirates, leaving Etihad as the only carrier currently operating flights between the two countries.
United Airlines, which resumed flights between Tel Aviv and Newark last month, is also expanding its service to the United States. Starting October 26, the American carrier will operate four weekly flights to Chicago, followed by three weekly flights to Washington from October 28.
The new routes will supplement United's two daily flights to Newark, which resumed on September 9 after a suspension related to Operation Roaring Lion. The airline also plans to resume flights between Tel Aviv and San Francisco on March 30, 2027.
The expansion reflects the importance of major international hubs for passengers traveling beyond their initial destinations, as well as the gradual return of foreign carriers to Israel. However, schedules remain vulnerable to change depending on the security situation and the risk of further escalation.
British Airways is scheduled to resume its London service on Sunday, initially operating one flight per day, compared with the two daily flights it offered before the suspension. Iberia, part of the IAG airline group, is also expected to resume daily flights between Tel Aviv and Madrid.
The return of the two European carriers will add options for passengers traveling between Israel and Europe, although the effect on overall seat capacity will depend on the aircraft used and how full the flights are. British Airways, in particular, is returning with a lower frequency than before its suspension.
The additional services could intensify competition on routes to Europe, but the effect on ticket prices will depend on how many other airlines resume operations, the level of demand and the seasonal travel market. Demand is expected to increase as the Christmas holiday period approaches.
