Wizz Air and United Are Back as Israel’s Skies Open Up Again
Wizz Air and United Airlines are spearheading the return of international flights to Tel Aviv, with Wizz resuming on August 8 and United on July 21, following a ceasefire with Iran. The restoration, supported by eased travel advisories and Israel’s reopened airspace, signals a recovery for Ben Gurion Airport, though some carriers remain cautious.
In a significant boost to Israel’s aviation sector, Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air will resume flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on August 8, 2025, following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Iran. The decision comes after Israel’s June 13, 2025, strike on Iran’s nuclear program prompted widespread flight suspensions due to airspace closures. Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev personally urged Wizz Air CEO József Váradi to expedite the airline’s return, originally planned for September 15. Váradi explained, “Aircraft had already been assigned to other routes for July, making an immediate restart impossible,” but committed to an August schedule adjustment after Regev’s call. Wizz Air, handling 8% of Ben Gurion’s pre-suspension passenger volume, ranks as the airport’s third-largest carrier after El Al and Israir.
The airline will gradually restore service, starting with flights from Tel Aviv to Larnaca and Budapest on August 8, followed by Dubai on August 15, London on August 22, and Vienna, Milan, Rome, Iasi, and Sofia on September 1. Additional routes resume September 15, with Wizz Air offering 31,000 seats to 11 countries, reinforcing its role as Europe’s leading low-cost carrier to Israel.
United Airlines also announced it will restart New York/Newark to Tel Aviv flights on July 21, ahead of its July 31 target, with a second daily flight starting July 22. A United spokesperson stated, “Any decision to operate flights to Tel Aviv is made after a thorough assessment of operational considerations in the region, and in close coordination with our flight attendants and pilot unions.”
Other airlines resuming service include Flydubai, Etihad Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Bluebird Airways, Hainan Airlines, Tus Airways, Azerbaijan Airlines, Red Wings, and FlyOne. Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels, Eurowings) will return August 1, Air France on July 7, and Air Europa and Aegean Airlines have operated since May. The European Aviation Safety Agency lifted Israel flight restrictions in early July, with the U.S. downgrading its travel advisory to Level 3 and Britain restoring Israel’s pre-war green status. Ben Gurion’s Terminal 1 reopens August 1, aiding low-cost carriers’ return. However, Delta, American, British Airways, Ryanair, and others remain suspended until at least September.
Updated List of International Airlines Resuming Flights to Israel (as of July 9, 2025):