Jooish

Ben Gurion Airport Braces for One of the Busiest Days of the Year After last week’s strike, there is currently no threat of another strike at Ben Gurion Airport tomorrow, Thursday, August 27. Around 95,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport as the summer vacation comes to an end and families return from abroad. Passengers are advised to check in from home, arrive 3 hours before departure, and check their terminal in advance. Flights operate from both Terminals 1 and 3.

⚠️ Malaria Outbreak at Frankfurt Airport A Frankfurt Airport employee has sadly died after contracting malaria amid an outbreak at the airport. At least six employees have been infected, with the other five receiving medical treatment. Authorities believe the mosquitoes may have arrived on aircraft, and the airport has set traps to investigate and contain the outbreak.

✈️ United Passengers Stranded for Nearly 9 Hours A United flight from Edinburgh to Chicago was diverted to Green Bay due to severe storms and tornadoes in the Chicago area. Passengers spent about 4 hours onboard, before the crew timed out while preparing to depart for Chicago. They were then forced to deplane onto the tarmac for another 5 hours because U.S. Customs officers were unavailable. The Boeing 757 finally departed Green Bay around 10:19 PM, with one passenger reporting an overall journey nearly 20 hours behind schedule.

✈️ LOT Polish Airlines Investing $400 Million in Major Upgrade LOT is set to refurbish its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with new lie-flat business class suites, direct aisle access, 4K screens, USB-C and Wi-Fi. LOT is often one of the most affordable options to Eretz Yisroel with a connection, making it very popular with frum travelers. It is also widely used by travelers heading to Poland to visit the mekomos hakedoshim. The first upgraded aircraft are expected in 2026, with the full retrofit program continuing through 2030.

Fake Pilot Scammed Airlines for Hundreds of Free Flights A former flight attendant pleaded guilty after posing as a commercial pilot and using a fake ID to obtain hundreds of free or discounted flights between 2020 and 2024. He exploited airline crew-travel systems including KCM and CASS, raising serious questions about security and verification. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with sentencing scheduled for December 8, 2026.

🇮🇹Gyrocopter Crash in Northern Italy A two-seat gyrocopter (autogyro) crashed in northern Italy after reportedly striking a tension cable, killing both the pilot and passenger. A gyrocopter is a small aircraft with a free-spinning rotor that provides lift, while a separate engine-driven propeller provides forward thrust.

✈️ Hollywood Burbank Airport Getting a Brand-New Terminal Hollywood Burbank Airport is preparing to open its $1.3 billion new terminal on October 13, replacing its aging facility. The modern terminal will have 14 gates, indoor baggage claim, larger spaces and improved safety — but surprisingly, no jet bridges. Instead, passengers will walk outside from the terminal and board aircraft using mobile stairs, keeping Burbank’s traditional boarding experience.

✈️ Delta Captain Becomes Ill During Flight A Delta 757 flying from Los Angeles to Boston diverted to Detroit after the captain became seriously ill and needed medical attention. After landing, the captain told ATC that he was the one who was ill and would taxi the aircraft to the gate before going to the hospital. The unusual ATC exchange captured the captain sounding clearly unwell as he taxied the aircraft to the gate.

✈️ Prince Harry Returns to the UK Prince Harry and Meghan have returned to Britain with their children, arriving in Birmingham aboard a Bombardier Global Express XRS private jet. The aircraft was chartered through Planet Nine Private Air and was not their personal aircraft. Their return comes after the announcement that the family plans to establish a private home in the UK while remaining non-working members of the Royal Family.

Nesia Travel Arranges 2 Special Charter Flights for Historic Shabbos Nesia Travel, together with Feivish Michalowitz, arranged two special charter flights for hundreds of Chasidim traveling to Eretz Yisroel for a historic Shabbos. Last night, a special off-airport luggage check-in took place at the Viznitz Shul in Monsey, allowing hundreds of Chasidim to check in their luggage before heading to the airport, minimizing airport time and helping with Shmiras Einayim. The El Al charter departs tonight at 1:50 AM. In a rare move, the aircraft is flying empty from Paris CDG specifically for the charter. The Arkia charter departs tomorrow at 8:00 AM, operated by a wet-leased Neos aircraft.

Ben Gurion Airport: Hundreds of suitcases that passengers were forced to leave behind are seen scattered outside in the scorching sun. Reports say the luggage was left behind following the airport disruptions and delays.

UNITED UA169 DIVERTS TO LONDON AFTER TECHNICAL ISSUE United flight UA169, a Boeing 767-400ER (N76062), was flying from Venice 🇮🇹 to Newark 🇺🇸 when the crew declared an emergency after reporting a technical problem. The aircraft descended to 17,000 feet and entered a holding pattern near the UK while dumping fuel to reduce its landing weight. After about 2 hours and 35 minutes, the aircraft landed safely on Runway 09L at London Heathrow 🇬🇧 and taxied to Terminal 2, where passengers disembarked normally. The 767 was subsequently towed to a maintenance facility for inspection. United has not yet disclosed the exact nature of the technical problem or announced the arrangements for the affected passengers.

The Vizhnitz Rebbe of Monsey made a stop at the Chabad stand near the El Al check-in area before boarding the special Nesia charter.

Breaking: Israeli Airlines Could Soon Return to Dubai Following a meeting in the UAE between Transportation Ministry Director-General Moshe Ben-Zaken and senior aviation officials, a breakthrough is expected in the coming days that could pave the way for Israeli airlines to resume flights to Dubai. The Shin Bet previously halted Israeli flights to Dubai over security concerns. Transportation Minister Miri Regev and the Civil Aviation Authority have since been working to restore Israeli carriers to the route, with the goal of increasing capacity and bringing down ticket prices.

ISRAIR’S NEW YORK ROUTE: FULL DETAILS REVEALED Israir is preparing to launch its new long-haul service to New York with two Airbus A330 aircraft, representing an investment of approximately $85 million for both planes. Israir CEO Uri Sirkis confirmed that the new aircraft and service are expected to begin already in September, although an exact launch date has not yet been announced. The aircraft are approximately 16 years old, originally operated by US Airways, later American Airlines, and now joining the Israir fleet. The Economy cabin will feature a 2-3-2 seating configuration, with a blanket and pillow at every seat. Business Class will also feature espresso machines. As part of Israir’s strategy to reduce cleaning time and achieve quicker aircraft turnarounds, the new onboard menu will include special bread that produces almost no crumbs. Sirkis is also promising competitive pricing. He said that while EL AL and Arkia can charge around $8,000–$10,000, Israir could charge approximately $6,500 and still make money. Flight schedule: TLV departure: 1:30 AM JFK arrival: 5:30 AM Tickets will include seat selection and one checked suitcase. The route will offer four classes of service: Economy, Economy Plus, Premium and Business. Israir has also launched a special page with all the information on the new New York route: https://www.israir.co.il/Flights/United_States/New_York

Air India Delays Return to Israel Again Air India has extended its suspension of Tel Aviv–New Delhi flights through November 30, 2026. The airline has been absent from the route for months due to the regional security situation. Passengers booked on canceled flights are eligible for a full refund.

✈️ MASSIVE 2027 EXPANSION 🇺🇸 Just days after United announced its major 2027 international expansion, American Airlines 🇺🇸 is following with a major network expansion of its own. American will launch 7 new international routes and add 3 new destinations: New York JFK → 🇳🇱 Amsterdam New York JFK → 🇫🇷 Nice Charlotte → 🇪🇸 Barcelona Chicago → 🇯🇵 Tokyo Narita Philadelphia → 🇵🇹 Porto Philadelphia → 🇮🇸 Reykjavik Philadelphia → 🇦🇹 Vienna JFK → 🇬🇧 London Heathrow — 4th daily flight The London service will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 featuring American’s premium Flagship Suite. A major part of the expansion is the Airbus A321XLR, which will be used on several of the new transatlantic routes — showing once again how airlines are increasingly using the long-range narrowbody to open new international markets.

🔥 DHL CARGO PLANE CATCHES FIRE AT LAX DHL Boeing 737-800 freighter KII1814, operated by Kalitta Charters II, was flying from Phoenix to Los Angeles Wednesday night. After landing at LAX, the aircraft suffered a brake malfunction, causing tires to overheat and catch fire. Airport rescue crews quickly extinguished the flames, and no injuries were reported.

UNITED’S “TWO-TWO-TWO TO TOULOUSE” 🇺🇸 Washington Dulles → 🇫🇷 Toulouse: United is launching UA222, creating the catchy announcement “United flight two-two-two to Toulouse.” The daily nonstop service begins April 26, 2027, operated by an Airbus A321XLR. The flight number appears to echo Lufthansa’s famous LH2222 to Toulouse, known for its memorable tongue-twisting announcement.

✈️ Nesia Travel’s Two Special Charters 🇮🇱 A look at the two special charter flights arranged by Nesia Travel, together with Feivish Michalowitz, bringing hundreds of Chasidim to Eretz Yisroel for the historic Shabbos. 🇮🇱 El Al LY3020 — Boeing 777 💺 Business • Premium • Economy 🇮🇱 Arkia IZ998 — Neos Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner 💺 Business • Premium • Economy Two special charters, three classes on each aircraft, and one historic Shabbos. ✈️🇮🇱