3 U.S. airlines resume flights to Tel Aviv

The three U.S. airlines serving Israel announced Thursday they were resuming flights to Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion Airport after the Federal Aviation Administration lifted a two-day prohibition.

The FAA's ban, imposed after a Hamas rocket landed near the airport, was criticized by Israel as an overreaction.

United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and US Airways said they would resume normal schedules. "The decision comes after careful internal consideration and input from high levels in government including the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation," a Delta statement said.

The airlines wouldn't say what, if anything, has changed in their safety assessments. Robert Isom, chief operating officer of US Airways' parent American Airlines, told reporters on an earnings conference call, "We feel very comfortable with the information that we have right now."

Israel's El Al maintained its five daily flights from the United States to Tel Aviv throughout the ban. The European Aviation Safety Agency was still recommending against flights to Israel.

-- Combined News Services