Amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, American Airlines, a major carrier in the US, is apparently prolonging its suspension of flights to Israel until April 2025, according to Israeli media.
The airline initially halted flights to and from Israel immediately following the outbreak of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023.
Since then, travelers have been unable to book flights to Israel through American Airlines, with no direct routes available on the airline’s website or via its reservation centers.
American Airlines flights have apparently been removed from booking systems for the foreseeable future, according to travel agents, with the earliest available dates not until April 2025.
While American Airlines suspended its operations in Israel immediately in October, other US-based airlines continued limited operations for a short time. However, no US carriers are operating in Israel now, Israeli media reported.
With the war on Gaza now in its tenth months, and concern rising over potential escalation between Iran and Israel, several countries issued travel warnings for the Middle East last week.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and France all urged their citizens to leave Lebanon, as the threat of an all-out war looms over the region.
The US embassy in Lebanon advised American citizens to secure “any available ticket” out of the country, CNN reported.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged British nationals to “leave now.”
The warnings followed the Biden administration’s decision to send additional warships to the region to support Israel.
The region remains on high alert after Iran vowed revenge against Israel, accusing it of assassinating Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Iranian territory last week.
Haniyeh’s death occurred just hours after an Israeli strike on Beirut killed Hezbollah’s top military commander, Fu’ad Shukr.