American Airlines to resume direct flights from New York to Tel Aviv in March 2026

American Airlines announced Friday that it will resume direct flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport starting March 28, 2026, after a two-year suspension due to the war in Gaza.

Return flights to New York will begin three days later. Tickets will go on sale starting October 27.

The airline’s decision follows a request from 'Israeli' Transportation Minister Miri Regev, who met with senior executives of American Airlines during a trip to the United States. The airline also informed the US Stock Exchange of the resumption of its Tel Aviv route.

American Airlines initially suspended flights after October 7, 2023. During the 'Israeli' genocide on Gaza, several international airlines temporarily canceled and resumed flights to 'Israel' depending on security conditions.

Other airlines resuming service

The announcement comes amid broader efforts by international carriers to restore connections with 'Israel'. According to reports, British Airways, Swiss, Iberia, Eurowings, and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) are all planning to resume flights to Tel Aviv soon. Additionally, Romania’s AnimaWings and Greece’s Sky Express are set to start operations at Ben Gurion Airport in December.

Last February, Delta Airlines announced it would resume its New York-Tel Aviv route, joining El Al as the only carrier operating direct flights during much of the conflict. United Airlines had also restarted its Newark-Tel Aviv route in July 2025.