Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links below. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
After the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, US airlines began suspending service to Tel Aviv. Dates for resumption were in constant flux by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines with several attempts to restart and then the need to stop service. Delta and United began flying once again last month and have operated a fairly consistent schedule since then from New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), respectively. Last night, Israel launched a strike on some of Iran’s nuclear sites and this action has set commercial service into a series of diversions and aircraft relocation in preparation for retaliation from Iran.
Both Delta and United were operating flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) last night. These were flying across the Atlantic when the decision was made to turn around and head back to the NYC area. Flights for the next several days are showing as cancelled and unavailable for sale. While the schedule has not been cleared, I’d expect this to be extended.
While the US carriers got their flights away from Israel, both El Al and Arkia removed their entire fleets from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) this morning and flew the aircraft out of the country due to safety concerns around Iranian action.
El Al has cancelled flights through June 16th and is not taking bookings for flights through June 30th. The airline released a statement that reads:
Following the declaration of a special situation and the closure of Israeli airspace for takeoffs and landings by decision of the security authorities, EL AL and Sundor have announced the cancellation of all their flights.
Given the situation, EL AL and Sundor are allowing customers whose bookings were made up to and including June 13, and who hold tickets for departures up to and including June 28, 2025, to cancel their flight and convert their tickets into a credit voucher for future use.
Customers whose flights were canceled due to the security situation can receive a refund. This policy will be updated as needed.
Additionally, EL AL and Sundor flights scheduled to depart up to and including June 30, 2025, are currently closed for new bookings in the booking systems. This is until the security situation becomes clearer and with the aim of providing solutions for Israelis whose flights were canceled.
EL AL and Sundor have advised customers whose flights are scheduled for Saturday evening, June 14, 2025, or Sunday, June 15, 2025, not to come to the airport and to await updates regarding their flight status. For customers currently abroad, we recommend arranging accommodation until there is a change in security directives.”
The situation is developing and it’s unclear what is coming next and how this will impact future flights and airport operations. The United States has made it clear that Israel’s actions were done without its support.
Anthony’s Take: We’ll have to wait and see how the situation unfolds and when the airport reopens. It will be interesting to see when United and Delta once again attempt flights and if Iran does take action in the interim.
(Featured Image Credit: El Al.)
User Generated Content Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.
Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
