United Airlines cancels flights to Tel Aviv through May 2 on security concerns

April 19 (Reuters) - United Airlines on Friday canceled its daily flight from Newark, New Jersey to Tel Aviv in Israel through May 2 due to security concerns after Israel's apparent strike on Iran.

The carrier said a scheduled second flight from Newark to Tel Aviv has also been canceled until May 18. Germany's Lufthansa also called off all flights to Tel Aviv and Erbil until Saturday and said it would fly around Iraqi airspace during the period.

Israel launched an attack on Iran on Friday, according to sources. But Tehran played down the incident and indicated it had no plans for retaliation, a move that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war.

United's move expands on its announcement from earlier this week, in which it canceled Monday's planned flight.

Global airlines have already been facing disruptions to flights after Iran's missile and drone attacks on Israel further narrowed options for planes navigating between Europe and Asia.

United was the first major carrier to resume its daily non-stop service between New York and Tel Aviv on March 2, while Delta Air Lines plans to resume flights to Tel Aviv on June 7.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru)