American Lawmaker queries absence of flights by American Airlines to Israel
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Title: Airline Routes to the Holy Land after the Conflict: A New Normal?
On the tumultuous day of October 7, 2023, Israel found itself in the midst of a devastating attack by 5,000 Hamas militants. This tragic encounter resulted in 1,200 fatalities and the kidnapping of 251 individuals to Gaza. The aftermath of the attack also impacted airline services to the Holy Land, with a notable absence of formal warning from the Federal Aviation Administration, despite the events echoing the previous 2014 war.
In a surprising turn of events, major American airlines Delta, United, and American Airlines ceased all flights to Israel, as the region found itself engaged in a grueling seven-front conflict. As of March 14, none of these Big Three U.S. international airlines were flying to Israel, with the only exception being El Al, for a hefty price tag starting at $2,511 for an 11-hour non-stop journey from New York.
For those willing to travel longer durations to save money, 74 flights were available with a single stop, offered by airlines such as Aegean, LOT-Polish, Brussels, Austrian Airlines, and ITA. My son opted for this method, traveling from London to Tel Aviv. The most economical round-trip from the NY area was approximately $1,250—quite a saving compared to El Al's rates.
Even Emirates found its way to Israel from New York airports, albeit via a lengthy 20-hour-plus journey through Dubai (DXB).
Amidst the market vacuum, El Al's profits skyrocketed, growing from $117 million in 2023 to a staggering $545 million in 2024, alongside an increase in load factor from 86% to 94%. This remarkable financial growth occurred within an overall decline in the total passenger count at Ben Gurion Airport by 34%. El Al mentioned the "unprecedented demand" that arose due to the cancellations of foreign airlines in 2024, as the reasoning behind their fiscal success.
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Discussions surrounding an alleged 'effective boycott' of Israel by American airlines have been on the rise, with Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) engaging with U.S. carriers regarding the issue. Torres suggests that if the FAA considers travel to Israel too dangerous, all airlines should adhere to their security assessment, criticizing the FAA's silence.
The political climate and the recent ceasefire may soon prompt a dramatic change in the competitive landscape for flights to Israel. Starting March 15, United Airlines resumed service from the U.S. to Israel, including non-stop flights. Delta announced it would restore Tel Aviv service from New York-JFK on April 1, offering nearly 2,000 weekly seats in its Airbus A330-900neo aircraft for the upcoming holidays.
Despite the return of Delta and United, American Airlines remains absent, with no updates regarding resumption of service to Israel since October 6, 2023. Passengers seeking travel alternatives can purchase tickets on American's partner airlines, such as Arkia Airlines, which commenced offering nonstop round-trip service between the United States and Israel. Arkia operates this route with an Airbus A330-900neo widebody leased from Iberojet, accommodating between 260 and 300 passengers on three weekly flights.
The Israeli government has also introduced a support program to safeguard airlines in case of cancellation due to the security situation. However, Israel still has a long road ahead to reach its 2019 tourism summit of 4.5 million travelers, with 961,000 total tourists visiting in 2024—a substantial 68% decrease from 2023.
In closing, the resumption of Delta and United's non-stop flights from the U.S. to Israel will undoubtedly boost travel between the two regions. It remains essential for American Airlines to provide a transparent and compelling reason for their continued absence, as posed by Congressman Torres, ensuring a string of ideological biases is not clouding their decision-making process.
- Congressman Torres (D-NY) has been actively discussing with American airlines about the alleged 'effective boycott' of Israel, questioning their absence from the region and urging them to adhere to the Federal Aviation Administration's security assessments.
- Delta Airlines, although initially ceased flights to Israel following the conflict, announced the resumption of Tel Aviv service from New York-JFK, effective April 1, offering 2,000 weekly seats on its Airbus A330-900neo aircraft.
- In lieu of American Airlines' absence from Israel, passengers can explore alternative options like Arkia Airlines, which offers nonstop round-trip service between the United States and Israel, with three weekly flights operated using an Airbus A330-900neo leased from Iberojet.
