American Airlines said Sunday that it will continue halting its direct flights between New York and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport until January 6, 2027.
“We will proactively reach out to impacted customers of this schedule adjustment, offering options in line with our customer-friendly schedule change policy,” the airline said in an e-mailed statement.
The carrier first stopped flying to Israel in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023.
Although American Airlines had initially planned to restart service to Israel in March, the company has repeatedly postponed its return because of ongoing instability and security concerns in the region.
Before Sunday’s announcement, the airline had already extended the suspension of its Tel Aviv route through September 7.
Last week, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) revealed that it was prolonging its Conflict Zone Advisory covering Israeli airspace as well as parts of the broader Middle East and Persian Gulf region, according to Globes.
The revised advisory is scheduled to remain active through at least May 27. However, the agency’s latest language reflected a somewhat different approach to the regional threat environment.
Earlier notices from the European regulator had strongly encouraged airlines to stay away from the area entirely. The newest guidance instead emphasizes heightened caution and ongoing monitoring of conditions.
Several major European airlines, including Wizz Air, KLM, Air France, and Air Europa, are now reportedly reconsidering the timing of their planned return to Israel because of the continuing EASA advisory.
{Matzav.com}