Lufthansa Returns to Israel, When Will U.S. and Other Major Airlines Follow?
Photo Credit: An American Airlines Boeing 777 Wikimedia Commons / TJDarmstadt
Skift Take
Lufthansa has kicked off a flurry of route resumptions to Tel Aviv, but some major carriers aren't ready to return just yet.
Last week Lufthansa made history. Weeks ahead of its major European rivals, the airline resumed scheduled services to Israel. As of last Monday, the German carrier is offering four weekly flights between Frankfurt and Tel Aviv and three from Munich. The routes mark the first time the company has operated to the country since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in early October.
The multi-brand model of the Lufthansa Group means the impact of this network decision stretches far beyond Germany. Austrian Airlines for example is now flying up eight times a week from Vienna to Tel Aviv, while Swiss is offering up to five weekly departures from its Zurich hub. Even though this represents just 30 percent of the regular schedule, the flights offer great connection opportunities for U.S. travelers.
While Lufthansa acknowledges that “possible flight schedule adjustments must be expected due to changing conditions,” it’s the first major airline to return to Tel Aviv but
