A delegation of Israeli Transportation Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority officials is currently holding meetings in Washington with senior US airline executives and aviation regulators to facilitate the return of American carriers to Israel. Civil Aviation Authority Director General Shmuel Zakai is leading the discussions.
The Israeli officials have expressed optimism that two US airlines could resume service before Passover, citing successful and constructive meetings with their American counterparts. The round of talks is set to continue Thursday, as officials work to expedite the restoration of US carrier service to Israel.
One of the primary challenges facing American airlines is fleet allocation for Israeli routes, though officials involved in the negotiations describe this as a manageable issue that could be resolved within weeks to months. Senior sources close to the discussions indicate that resuming operations before Passover is a realistic timeline. Currently, El Al remains the sole carrier operating direct flights between Israel and the United States, with limited alternative routing options available through intermediate destinations.
