United Airlines Sued By Think Tank Over Israel Flight Suspensions

CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) is under legal scrutiny as a conservative think tank sues the airline over alleged political motivations behind its repeated suspensions of service to Tel Aviv (TLV), Israel.

The National Center for Public Policy Research, a shareholder, demands internal documents to investigate whether the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) influenced the airline’s decision-making.

The dispute surrounds United’s Tel Aviv flights from its Newark Liberty International Airport hub (EWR), questioning whether safety was the sole reason for halting service.

The airline maintains operational concerns drove decisions, but the lawsuit implies union interference with geopolitical intent.

Photo: Clément Alloing

United Airlines Sued For Israel Flight Suspension

The National Center for Public Policy Research has taken United Airlines (UA) to an Illinois district court, aiming to uncover internal communications that might expose undue political influence by labor unions.

The think tank alleges that the flight suspensions were not purely based on safety, but instead driven by ideological agendas within the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA).

United initially halted flights to Tel Aviv following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Though flights resumed briefly in March 2024, they were halted again due to Iran’s drone strikes and subsequent regional instability.

The airline restarted service once more in May but suspended it again in August when tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalated.

A fourth suspension occurred in April 2025 after a missile strike near Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV).

The lawsuit claims that these operational decisions may have been swayed by union pressure.

According to PYOK, the complaint emphasizes the potential role of AFA-CWA President Sara Nelson, whose public support for pro-BDS and ceasefire rhetoric allegedly influenced United’s executive decisions.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Internal Union Influence

The National Center’s lawsuit names union leader Sara Nelson directly, accusing her of steering United toward political stances under the guise of safety advocacy.

The complaint highlights Nelson’s public statements and alleged behind-the-scenes lobbying to restrict United’s service to Israel.

In February, United acknowledged that it had consulted with both its pilot and flight attendant unions before resuming service to Tel Aviv.

A decision is typically left to airline management based on security assessments. The think tank interprets this as an unusual delegation of strategic authority to union bodies.

In defense, AFA-CWA has called the allegations “unfounded and delusional,” reiterating that its involvement with airline management is focused solely on ensuring crew safety on international layovers, regardless of destination.

Photo: Dylan T | Flickr

Legal and Political Implications

While United is headquartered in Chicago, its incorporation in Delaware may offer it additional legal shielding.

Delaware’s corporate governance laws could help the airline resist the demand for document disclosure, complicating the think tank’s legal strategy under the Illinois Business Corporation Act.

This isn’t the first time United has come under political fire over its Israel route suspensions.

In August 2024, Rep. Ritchie Torres criticized United, along with Delta (DL) and American Airlines (AA), for what he characterized as a de facto boycott of Israel.

His letter urged the US government to prohibit prolonged suspensions that functionally discriminate against the country.

Despite the controversy, United plans to resume service to Tel Aviv in early June.

Delta Air Lines has already reinstated flights on the New York (JFK) to Tel Aviv (TLV) route, highlighting a cautious return of US carriers to Israeli airspace amid ongoing tensions.

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