American Airlines has initiated a hiring process for Hebrew-speaking flight attendants, a move widely interpreted within the aviation industry as a preliminary step toward resuming flights to Israel. The carrier has not operated services to the country for nearly two years, following a suspension in late 2023.
Key Takeaways
- American Airlines posted job openings for flight attendant trainees fluent in both Hebrew and English.
- The airline suspended its last remaining route to Israel, New York (JFK) to Tel Aviv (TLV), in October 2023.
- Competitors United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have already resumed their services to Israel.
- American Airlines has not officially confirmed plans or a timeline for reinstating flights to Tel Aviv.
Hiring as a Precursor to Service Resumption
Recent job postings by American Airlines are fueling speculation about its future plans for the Israeli market. The airline is specifically seeking a "Flight Attendant Trainee Hebrew and English Bilingual," a role that strongly suggests preparation for routes where Hebrew language skills are necessary for passenger communication and safety announcements.
In the airline industry, hiring cabin crew with specific language skills is a standard operational requirement before launching or relaunching services to a particular country. Airlines must often have a minimum number of native language speakers on board to comply with regulations and enhance customer service.
The new positions will be based at several of the airline's major hubs, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (LGA), and Washington (DCA). This broad range of bases could indicate flexibility in potential departure points for future Israel-bound flights.
A Two-Year Hiatus
American Airlines is the last of the three major U.S. legacy carriers to potentially return to Israel. Both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have already reinstated their flights, although services have faced intermittent suspensions due to regional security concerns.
History of American Airlines' Israel Routes
American Airlines first re-entered the Israeli market in 2021 after a long absence. The carrier launched a route from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in May of that year, followed by a service from Miami International Airport (MIA) in June.
The airline utilized its Boeing 777-200 and 787-8 aircraft for these long-haul flights. A third route, planned to connect Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) with Tel Aviv, was announced for a June 2022 launch but never commenced operations.
Service from Miami was discontinued in March 2023 due to commercial reasons. The remaining route from New York was suspended in October 2023 following the outbreak of conflict in the region. Initially, the suspension was expected to last until December 2023, but it has since been extended multiple times.
Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz publicly called for American carriers to resume their flights to Israel, suggesting that the prolonged suspensions could be perceived as a "politically motivated boycott instead of a genuine safety concern."
Currently, American Airlines' only destination in the Middle East is Doha, Qatar (DOH), which it serves daily from its Philadelphia (PHL) hub using a Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
The Competitive US-Israel Air Travel Market
While American Airlines has been absent, the air corridor between the United States and Israel has remained active. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows a robust market with significant capacity offered by other airlines.
As of now, there are approximately 64 scheduled flights per week operating on seven different routes between the two countries. This service is provided by a mix of Israeli and American carriers.
US-Israel Flights by the Numbers
- Top Carrier: El Al, Israel's flag carrier, operates 39 weekly flights.
- Busiest Route: New York (JFK) to Tel Aviv (TLV) with 25 weekly flights.
- Second Busiest Route: Newark (EWR) to Tel Aviv (TLV) with 23 weekly flights.
Key Airlines in the Market
The landscape is currently dominated by four main airlines:
- El Al: The leading airline, connecting Tel Aviv with six U.S. gateways: New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), and Fort Lauderdale (FLL).
- United Airlines: The top U.S. carrier in the market, operating two daily flights from its Newark hub.
- Delta Air Lines: Offers a daily service from its hub at New York (JFK).
- Arkia: A newer entrant, this Israeli airline operates four weekly flights to Tel Aviv.
For travelers, numerous one-stop connection options also exist via major hubs in the Middle East and Europe. Carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines provide extensive networks linking various U.S. cities to Tel Aviv through their respective hubs.
The potential return of American Airlines would add significant capacity and competition, particularly for members of its AAdvantage loyalty program and partners in the Oneworld alliance. However, the airline has remained silent on any official plans, leaving travelers and industry observers to await a formal announcement.
