American Airlines Cuts Tel Aviv Flights Until at Least October 2024

13.02.2024 - 19:34 / travelpulse.com / United Airlines / Laurie Baratti

The latest publicly available scheduling data indicates that American Airlines has removed Tel Aviv from its flight schedule until at least October 2024. The decision comes in the wake of the notorious terrorist attack launched by Hamas on Southern Israel on October 7, 2023. 

At the time, the incursion prompted American Airlines to immediately suspend its routes to the Israeli city and it now looks as though the Big Four carrier won’t be returning to Tel Aviv for an entire year.

The Dallas Fort Worth-based carrier is not expected to resume flights to the Israeli destination until October 26, 2024, according to data published by aviation analytics company Cirium. At that point, daily service from New York JFK is anticipated to return on October 28 and run through January 2025. However, the timetable for resumption of service remains subject to change and will be contingent on the security situation closer to those dates.

In the interim, its seems that British Airways is the only Oneworld alliance member airline that will be operating routes to Tel Aviv over the summer. However, these flights will be conducted on a short-haul-configured Airbus A321 with a layover in Larnaca, Cyprus. The brief technical stop will enable a new set of crewmembers to board, and will extend the normal five-hour flight time from London Heathrow to six and a half hours.

The decision to delay its return to Tel Aviv is primarily driven by concerns for the safety of pilots and flight attendants, particularly during layovers in the city amid the ongoing threat of rocket attacks from Gaza. Last year, American Airlines’ pilots' union had advised members against flying to Tel Aviv until it was “reasonably assured of the region’s safety and security”.

While there are rumors of United Airlines considering a return to Tel Aviv this summer, the Star Alliance member would also need to find a spot to arrange a stopover in order to wap crews, so that employees aren’t obliged to disembark in Tel Aviv. According to Paddle Your Own Kanoo’s report, Athens seems one of the most likely options for such layovers if United Airlines does decide to reinstate routes to Tel Aviv.

Despite the cautious approach of American Airlines, several European airlines have resumed flights to Tel Aviv following approval from the European Air Safety Agency (EASA). Airlines such as Lufthansa, Ryanair, Air France and Wizz Air have already resumed operations to Israel, indicating a gradual normalization of air travel to the embattled region.

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.