Delta to start nonstop flights to Tel Aviv

TEL AVIV, Israel (Reuters) -- Delta Air Lines plans to start non-stop service to Israel from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport as part of the airline's global expansion.

Delta said Thursday it will offer one daily nonstop between New York and Tel Aviv using MD-11 aircraft, beginning in June.

Delta halted flights to Tel Aviv, which included a stopover in Europe, five years ago.

It now becomes the fourth airline to fly nonstop between New York and Israel. El Al Israel Airlines and TWA fly to JFK, while Continental last year began flying from Newark.

"I admire their courage in coming to Tel Aviv when traffic figures are dropping," said Nahum Kara, El Al's director of international affairs.

Televised images from more than seven weeks of Israeli-Palestinian violence have prompted many travelers to cancel plans to visit.

But Kara said El Al and Delta would promote Israeli tourism together. The two airlines recently signed a code-sharing agreement that is slated to take effect in March.

"When we negotiated the code-share agreement we did take into consideration that Delta might start direct services," Kara said.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Americans advised not to visit Israel or West Bank
October 25, 2000
Terrorism concerns prompt new travel advisory
October 18, 2000
State Department warns Americans to avoid Israel, West Bank, Gaza and Yemen
October 12, 2000
When a vacation spot turns violent: What's a traveler to do?
October 6, 2000

Delta Air Lines
El-Al
Continental Airlines
TWA

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.