Continental to reinstate second U.S.-Israel flight

Reuters reported that Continental Airlines, said on Monday it will resume a second daily nonstop flight between New York and Tel Aviv starting in May 2002, a year and a half after it cut the extra flight due to the effects on business of a Palestinian revolt.

Continental, the fifth largest U.S. carrier, will operate the afternoon flights in both directions using Boeing 777 aircraft from its Newark hub.

Barry Simon, the airline's international senior vice president, said it was reinstating the flight in response to strong customer demand.

``We have continued to be successful in the Israeli market despite the temporary reduction in demand and increased competition,'' he said in a statement.

Tourism to Israel has plunged since a Palestinian uprising began in late September, although U.S. and European airlines have reported an increase in traffic from Israelis.

Continental, which began operating the Newark-Tel Aviv route in August 1999, suspended one daily flight in November, but the airline said its remaining daily flight was usually full.

Continental is one of three airlines which fly nonstop from the United States to Israel along with national carrier El Al Israel Airlines and Delta, which started nonstop service from New York-JFK last month.