American Airlines Won't Touch Tel Aviv Until 2027 — Delta and United Are Gambling on September

American Airlines Won't Touch Tel Aviv Until 2027 — Delta and United Are Gambling on September

While Delta and United are penciling in a September return to Ben Gurion Airport, American Airlines has decided the math simply doesn't work. American has extended its Tel Aviv suspension all the way to January 2027 — a near three-year absence that started in October 2023 and keeps growing. The trigger: the launch of Operation Epic Fury at the end of February 2026, a US and Israel air campaign against Iran that has produced a sustained wave of missile and drone attacks across the region, making Israeli airspace too dangerous for civilian carriers.

Delta is reportedly targeting September 6, 2026, for a restart from New York JFK, with Atlanta service planned for November 30. United is eyeing September 8 from New York. American, by contrast, has drawn a hard line and isn't budging. That leaves Israeli carriers El Al and Arkia as the only airlines currently offering nonstop US flights to Tel Aviv — meaning if you need to get there, you're paying their fares, on their schedules, with no competition keeping prices in check.

The situation has been building since 2023, with violence escalating in an unbroken chain through to today's regional conflict. For American passengers who had booked future itineraries expecting an earlier return, the message is clear: rebook, reroute, or wait until next winter at the earliest.

Gobble's Take: El Al and Arkia just became a duopoly on one of the world's most in-demand transatlantic routes — book accordingly, because neither airline has a reason to discount.

Source: Simple Flying

Kuwait International Airport Is Open Again After Months of Shutdown

Kuwait International Airport, closed since February 28 following damage attributed to Iranian attacks and affiliated factions, has officially reopened — ending a months-long disruption that left an estimated 200,000 passengers without options. The airport is resuming in phases: Kuwait Airways is operating out of Terminal 4, while Jazeera Airways is running from Terminal 5, with routes and frequencies expanding gradually.

A multi-month closure of an international hub is rare and punishing. Passengers and airlines had to absorb months of reroutes, missed connections, and inflated fares on alternative routes through the region. The phased reopening reflects the scale of repairs needed to maintenance facilities and operational equipment before the airport could safely return to service.

If Kuwait is on your itinerary, the green light is on — but treat the first few weeks like a soft launch, not a full return to normal. Confirm your flight directly with your airline, build in extra time for security procedures, and watch for schedule changes as frequencies ramp back up.

Gobble's Take: A phased reopening after months of war-related damage is good news, but "open" and "running smoothly" are not the same thing yet.

Source: Condé Nast Traveller Middle East

Quick Hits

• Asia air travel snarled across six major hubs: Air China, China Eastern, ANA, Japan Airlines, and others faced 37 cancellations and 181 delays across Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Incheon in a single day — if you're connecting through any of these cities, check your flight status before you leave for the airport. Travel And Tour World
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson hit by 120 delays and 35 cancellations: Delta, American, Frontier, and others were caught in a wave of disruptions at the world's busiest airport — if ATL is on your itinerary today, verify your flight status directly with your airline before heading to the terminal. Nbsla.ca

In Case You Missed It

Yesterday's top stories:

• Qantas Flight QF21 Diverts to Tahiti After Passenger Bites Crew Member
• Delta Is Cutting All Free Drinks and Snacks on 450 Short Flights, Starting Monday