Sen. Ted Cruz Predicts U.S. Airlines Will Resume Flights to Israel Soon

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has expressed optimism that U.S. airlines will resume flights to Israel within 30 days following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks by Hamas. Cruz, who is set to become the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, attributes the current suspension of flights to political motivations, particularly from unions such as the flight attendants union, which he claims holds anti-Israel sentiments. He emphasized the importance of U.S. airlines resuming operations to Israel, especially in light of existing flights being operated by El Al and regional airlines. [f6d6f25b]

In the wake of the ongoing conflict, Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv have decided to hold their upcoming Euroleague home games in Belgrade, as Euroleague Basketball (EB) postponed their home game against Real Madrid. The Serbian government and Belgrade Municipality have extended support to Maccabi, ensuring necessary security measures are in place. EB continues to monitor the situation closely for any further adjustments. [3b5dfd5e]

Emirates Airlines has canceled flights to Tel Aviv due to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, with the last flight, EK931, scheduled to land at 5:45 PM local time. Emirates is prioritizing the safety of its customers and employees and has waived change and cancellation charges for tickets issued before October 11, 2023, for travel until November 30, 2023. [6dde523d]

United Airlines became the first U.S. airline to resume flights to Israel since the conflict began, with its first flight from Newark landing in Tel Aviv recently. This resumption follows a ceasefire declared between Israel and Hamas on May 21. United plans to operate daily flights between Newark and Tel Aviv, with additional flights from Chicago and San Francisco starting in July. [641b8946]

Delta Air Lines is also planning to resume direct flights from the U.S. to Israel in June, following extensive security assessments. Delta's daily flights to Tel Aviv will commence on June 7, marking a significant step towards restoring air travel to the region. [2311e6a8]

As global airlines navigate the complexities of air travel in the region, disruptions have been noted due to Iran's missile and drone attacks on Israel. Various airlines, including KLM, Finnair, and Air Canada, have canceled or rerouted flights to and from Tel Aviv, with disruptions expected to continue until at least April 21. Lufthansa has announced plans to resume flights to Tel Aviv, Amman, and Erbil, while flights to Tehran and Beirut remain canceled. [f908912f]