In the midst of an ongoing conflict between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas, major airlines are displaying hesitation in restarting flights to the region. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines initially suspended their flights to Israel and nearby Middle Eastern countries following a deadly attack in October 2023. However, they gradually resumed services in the fall. Now, with the conflict reaching its one-year mark and no resolution in sight, airlines are once again reconsidering their operations.

United Airlines became the first among the three US-based carriers to restart its Newark-Tel Aviv flight in February. Delta Air Lines followed suit with its own flights shortly afterward. American Airlines, on the other hand, was the last to announce plans for resuming its Israel route in October 2024. However, the airline has recently reversed its decision and pushed back the resumption until at least April 2025. According to Israeli news outlet Israeli Hayom, American Airlines flights have disappeared from airport booking systems until that date. While the airline has not confirmed the decision, it has stated that it will continue working closely with partner airlines to assist customers traveling between Israel and European cities with service to the US.

The hesitation among airlines is not restricted to US carriers. Following a new attack that claimed the lives of 12 children in a village in the Golan Heights and increased the risk of a broader war between Israel and Lebanon, several international airlines have also canceled their flights to Israel and surrounding regions. Lufthansa, the German flagship carrier, temporarily suspended its flights to Tel Aviv from Frankfurt and Munich, as well as its flights to Beirut throughout August. Air France-KLM is closely monitoring the situation and may take similar action.

While US carriers do not currently fly directly to Lebanon, they are actively monitoring the situation in both Israel and Lebanon. The volatile nature of the conflict often prompts last-minute changes in flight schedules. In fact, at least 20 international airlines have canceled their flights to Israel earlier this year due to fears of potential Iranian retaliation after the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31.

Delta and United have suspended their flights to Tel Aviv until August 31, but they have not yet made any statements regarding whether they will resume services or extend the suspension further after that date. Delta, in a statement addressing the changes, confirmed the pause in flights and stated that customers affected by the schedule change will receive notifications via the Fly Delta app and through the contact information listed in their reservation. Delta also suggested that passengers who need to travel to the region may consider booking flights through Air France or Israel's flagship carrier, El Al, which provides consistent service to the country.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas persists without any signs of resolution, airlines must carefully evaluate the security situation and make adjustments accordingly. The uncertainty surrounding the region continues to impact travelers and the aviation industry as a whole, further adding to the challenges faced by airlines navigating through this complex and sensitive geopolitical landscape.