United Airlines will introduce a new non-stop route between Washington Dulles International Airport and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport beginning next year. Scheduled to start on May 22, 2019, this route marks the first non-stop service between these two cities by a U.S. carrier and becomes United’s fourth regular flight to Israel. The airline already operates twice-daily service between Newark (EWR) and Tel Aviv and between San Francisco (SFO) and Tel Aviv.
The new service will operate three times weekly. Flights depart Washington, D.C. at 10:30 p.m. and arrive in Tel Aviv at approximately 4:30 p.m. the following day. Return departures from Israel are scheduled at 12:20 a.m., with arrivals back in the United States at about 5:50 a.m. The route will be flown with a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.
“As we begin celebrating 20 years of service in Israel, we want to thank our customers and employees who have helped make United the top U.S. airline serving Israel,” said Patrick Quayle, vice president of international network at United. He acknowledged the collaboration with Israeli authorities and noted the importance of the route in connecting the U.S. capital to a country known for its advanced science and technology sectors.
Yariv Levin, Israel’s minister of tourism, welcomed the announcement and highlighted its significance. “We are thrilled to welcome another United Airlines flight to Israel from the United States,” he said, calling the new service a fitting way to mark United’s 20-year presence in Israel. Levin added that the expanded air service will create more opportunities to strengthen commercial ties and boost tourism between the two countries.
The addition of the Dulles–Tel Aviv nonstop complements United’s existing Israel network and offers travelers more options for direct travel between the Washington, D.C. area and Israel. With modern widebody equipment on the schedule, the service is positioned to support both leisure and business travel, including connections to Israel’s technology and innovation hubs.
By adding this route, United increases capacity and frequency on U.S.–Israel corridors, providing greater scheduling flexibility for passengers flying for tourism, family visits, or commerce. The flight times are designed to optimize overnight travel on the westbound leg and early morning arrivals on the eastbound leg, helping passengers maximize their time at destination while minimizing daytime travel disruptions.