Israel offers Emirates Tel Aviv–New York direct flights

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Israel offers Emirates Tel Aviv–New York direct flights

May 19, 2026

DUBAI/TEL AVIV,— The Israeli Ministry of Transportation has put forward a proposal for Emirates to operate a rare seventh freedom air service linking Ben Gurion Tel Aviv Airport with New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, media reported.

The plan would allow the airline to base aircraft and crews in Tel Aviv and run flights to the United States without routing through Dubai.

First reported by the Israeli Mako website, the proposal also includes a possible additional route to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The initiative comes as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines have suspended service on the route for an extended period, leaving reduced competition on key Israel–US connections.

Under the seventh freedom arrangement, Emirates would operate direct flights between Tel Aviv and New York independently of its Dubai hub.

The proposal is also tied to discussions about restoring Emirates service between Dubai and Tel Aviv after more than two years without operations, according to One Mile At A Time.

A delegation from Israel’s Ministry of Transport has met senior executives from Emirates as well as officials from the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Transport to advance the plan.

The talks are taking place alongside broader diplomatic engagement between Israel and the UAE despite earlier tensions following revelations concerning the Israeli prime minister’s visit to the country.

The proposal has backing from Israel’s transport minister and is intended to restore Emirates operations at Ben Gurion Airport, where the airline has not landed since the October 2023 Hamas attacks.

It follows the failure of an earlier concept involving a potential Wizz Air base in Israel that did not move forward.

The plan would require changes to Israeli aviation law and approvals from both Israeli and United States authorities to allow a foreign airline to operate independently on these routes.

Israeli carriers El Al, Arkia, and Israir are expected to oppose the measure and are likely to petition against it.

Supporters argue that the entry of Emirates could increase competition and reduce fares on high-demand routes, especially given the current dominance of El Al and Arkia on nonstop Israel–United States flights and reduced widebody capacity at Ben Gurion Airport, which has limited premium seat availability.

Travel disruptions since the October 2023 Hamas attacks have also affected routes beyond the United States, including services to Thailand, where Israeli passengers have faced reduced options and occasional stranding in Bangkok.

Following the joint United States and Israeli strike on Iran, referred to as Operation Epic Fury beginning at the end of February, EL AL introduced recovery flights once conditions allowed, with fares capped at $599 to return stranded travelers.

Delta Air Lines is expected to resume Tel Aviv service in September. United Airlines has not confirmed a return date but could restart as early as September, while American Airlines has postponed its return until 2027.

The wider Gulf region continues to experience air travel disruption linked to military activity involving Iran.

Although the intensity of the conflict has eased in recent weeks, it has not formally ended, raising concerns about operational stability and safety for crews that could be based in Tel Aviv.

Policy hurdles remain significant, but limited alternatives for transatlantic travel have intensified interest in the proposal.

Reduced competition has allowed El Al to dominate major routes while capacity constraints continue to affect fares and availability across Israel’s long-haul network.

Emirates currently carries many Israeli travelers to Thailand via Dubai but does not serve passengers who avoid connecting itineraries.

Data cited by the Times of Israel indicates more than 400,000 Israelis travel to Thailand annually, sustaining strong demand for the Tel Aviv–Bangkok route throughout the year.

(With files from mako.co.il, simpleflying.com)