Rome and Athens: Israel’s unlikely new gateways to North America - comment

For Israelis flying to North America, “Terminal Four” and “Terminal Five” have become the practical answer when Ben-Gurion Airport offers too few direct flights. The names are unofficial: Terminal Four is Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, while Terminal Five is Athens International Airport.

The tongue-in-cheek proposal reflects a harsh reality for travelers. With US carriers absent from Israel, Rome and Athens emerged as two of the busiest European connections for flights to North America. The choice had little to do with ancient Jewish, Greek, or Roman history. Travelers were simply looking for seats and more manageable fares.

During the summer, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Boston were the only North American destinations served nonstop from Ben-Gurion by Israeli carriers. A sample of economy fares put New York at about $2,500, while the lowest fares to the other destinations exceeded $6,000. Even at those prices, seats remained scarce.

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Terminal Four

The situation contrasts sharply with the short period between the end of COVID-19 restrictions and October 7, 2023. At that time, the same direct routes generally cost about $1,000. The absence of Delta, United, American, and Air Canada also removed nonstop service to the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Canada.

The expected, gradual return of US legacy airlines could change the picture. Until then, passengers may continue treating Rome and Athens as unofficial extensions of Ben-Gurion, combining a necessary layover with the possibility of a brief European stop.

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Terminal Five