Friday, August 30, 2024 Since October of the previous year, American airlines have faced disruptions in their operations to Israel due to ongoing conflicts involving Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah. Most recently, all three major U.S.
carriers—American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines—have halted their flights to Israel. Congressman Ritchie Torres has voiced concerns over this prolonged suspension, arguing that it has adversely affected the market. He pointed out that Israel’s national airline, EL AL, remains the only consistent link between the two countries, which has led to a significant increase in airfare prices and has created a near-monopoly situation.
In a formal letter, Torres accused the airlines of effectively boycotting or discriminating against Israel by not resuming their services, urging them to reconsider their positions and operate under the guidance of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). American Airlines recently announced that it would not resume its flights to Israel until April 2025. Initially, the airline had suspended operations through October 2024, but escalating regional tensions led to an extension.
American Airlines has not flown to Tel Aviv since the conflict with Hamas reignited in October 2023, whereas Delta Air Lines and United Airlines had temporarily resumed their services. United Airlines resumed flights to Tel Aviv in March 2024, using its largest Boeing 787-10 aircraft, but soon after canceled flights again due to renewed hostilities between Israel and Iran. The airline had initially planned to offer twice-daily flights to Tel Aviv on weekends but suspended operations indefinitely on April 20, 2024.
Delta Air Lines, which had also experienced intermittent operations in 2024, extended its flight suspension through September, citing ongoing conflicts in the region. The airline initially planned to halt flights in August but decided to prolong the suspension as tensions continued to rise..
