13 hours Ago By Rytis Beresnevičius
Virgin Atlantic has confirmed that it will not be returning to Tel Aviv, Israel, with the airline emphasizing its codeshare agreement with EL AL, which offers direct connections between London, the United Kingdom, and Tel Aviv, Israel. The UK-based airline has not served Israel since the outbreak of the war between Hamas and Israel. During the peak summer season in 2023, Virgin Atlantic offered up to double-daily flights on the route with its widebody aircraft.
Not Returning To Tel Aviv In a statement to Simple Flying, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson confirmed the development, saying that the decision to cancel its flights between London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) was made after “careful consideration.” The airline’s media representative added that while the airline will not be using its own aircraft on the route, its codeshare partner, the de facto flag carrier of Israel, EL AL, will offer connections between the British capital and the Israeli city. “Anyone booked to travel will be contacted by email with their options from [May 10,] which include the option to rebook onto an alternative carrier or request a refund,” the carrier said.
“The codeshare partnership with EL AL offers connections between Israel, the UK, and the US, allowing customers greater flexibility, with frequencies up to four daily flights, and choice when selecting travel between Israel and the UK. Our partnership will offer reciprocal earn and redemption opportunities, as well as premium customer recognition and tier benefits for frequent flyers, including Flying Club and EL AL’s Matmid program.” Connecting Onward To The US The airline’s spokesperson concluded that Virgin Atlantic’s customers will be able to travel on EL AL’s services between Tel Aviv and London-Heathrow and connect onward to multiple destinations in the United States, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Miami International Airport (MIA), and New York John F.
Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium’s Diio Mi airline planning tool showed that in June, Virgin Atlantic is planning 157 weekly departures from London-Heathrow to the US. In addition to the four aforementioned airports, the airline will also fly to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Tampa International Airport (TPA), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), all of which will be served at least daily.
Meanwhile, EL AL’s US network from Tel Aviv in June includes five destinations in total, with the only two airports that will not be served by Virgin Atlantic being Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The latter also serves the New York metropolitan area. There have been significant changes recently.
Up To Double-Daily Flights Cirium’s Diio Mi also showed that Virgin Atlantic last served Tel Aviv in 2023, when, during the first ten months of the year, it had up to double-daily flights from London-Heathrow, which included itineraries operated by either the Airbus A330-300 or the Boeing 787-9. The data also showed that Virgin Atlantic had planned to return to Israel in November, with the airline having scheduled daily 787-9 flights between London-Heathrow and Tel Aviv. As the airline’s spokesperson confirmed, these plans have now been put on hold.
In June, in addition to EL AL’s 11 weekly departures on the route, British Airways will offer a double-daily flight from London’s largest airport to Israel’s main gateway, with the itineraries being scheduled with the A321neo. However, when British Airways announced its return to Tel Aviv in April, the airline said that it had moved flights to the Mediterranean country from its long-haul to its short-haul network , resulting in the airline opting for narrowbody aircraft instead of twin-aisle jets to operate the flights to Israel. Before British Airways exited the route between London-Heathrow and Tel Aviv, it had up to daily A350-1000 flights in September 2023 and October 2023.
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