American has just announced that they will fly nonstop between JFK and Tel Aviv starting next year.
This will be enabled by a new codeshare partnership with JetBlue in NYC and Boston. JetBlue says they will add more flights to all 3 NYC airports which will feed passengers to American. Hopefully we’ll also get some fun new mileage redemption and elite benefits between the new partners as well!
In turn, American will start flying year-round from JFK to Tel Aviv and Athens next year. It will also fly seasonally once again to Rio de Janeiro next winter. American will be adding several more international flights to Europe, Africa, India, and South America from JFK as well that will be announced later.
JetBlue will not join OneWorld as west coast based Alaska will be soon thanks to their own American partnership. JetBlue will also still launch their own nonstop flights to London next year. For now, both Alaska and JetBlue remain codeshare partners with El Al as well.
JetBlue and American were once bitter rivals, but American has massively shrunk their presence at JFK in recent years as they mostly ceded that airport to Delta and JetBlue. Today’s announcement represents an amazing reversal of their JFK hub’s fortunes as American takes a “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” attitude to JetBlue.
JFK and Miami to Tel Aviv were seen as obvious route launches when American launched with USAirways. However they ended Philadelphia to Tel Aviv service in January 2016, decided to massively shrink their JFK hub operations, and they were beat by El Al in Miami.
United CEO Scott Kirby, who was President at USAirways before moving to American with the merger and then jumping ship to United, once called the Philadelphia to Tel Aviv route among the most lucrative in their system. However American said the route was not profitable and didn’t have any forecast of profitability when they shut it down.
The assumption at the time was that American couldn’t fly to Tel Aviv due to pension liabilities leftover from TWA. I had speculated when the USAirways merger was announced in 2013 that either American would launch JFK and Miami to Tel Aviv service or they would have to end all Tel Aviv service due to TWA issues. Presumably those issues have been resolved.
American was supposed to start flying between Dallas and Tel Aviv in September. That route launch was pushed back by 1 year and it remains to be seen if it will happen in the wake of COVID-19 and the Chicago-Tel Aviv route launch by United. The Chicago route will take away from a lot of the feed that American hoped to route through Dallas.
The real question now is when will American announce nonstop Miami-Tel Aviv service?
With El Al’s operations suspended and looking weaker than they ever have, the US airlines smell blood in the water and have now announced 2 new routes in the midst of a global pandemic. It’s a testimony to just how strong the US-Israel market is for the airlines. All 3 major US carriers will now have a presence on the NYC-Tel Aviv route.
Hopefully it will also be a boon for consumers as the airlines jockey for market share, though that may be more bad news for El Al as they can hardly afford a bruising fare war on their flagship route.
Will you fly on American between JFK and Tel Aviv?
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174 Comments On "WOW! American Will Fly Nonstop Between JFK And Tel Aviv And Will Add More JFK Flights With New JetBlue Partnership!"
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What about flying direct from PHL??? Restart that route!!!
Unlikely to happen anytime soon. Both Dallas and Miami would likely come first.
Waiting for this to come back
Miracles do happen!!!
Dan do you think competition will actually heat up now and lower fares as there will now be 4 airlines with nonstops from NYC?
I feel the future of ElAl is unknown. Regardless, while they are “figuring things out” (if that’s the accurate term) many airlines may try to build up some active markets. I’m surprised AA hasn’t grabbed MIA by now, and additionally PHL.
It does seem likely that with 4 airlines on the route we should see lower fares and maybe even a fare war.
I agree. But as popular as the NYC-JFK route is, I still wonder if it’s robust and profitable enough to sustain 4 competing airlines amid super-low fares for the long-term? Or will at least one of them end up bowing out soon after? Looks like we’re going to find out.
There is definitely enough traffic for 4 airlines, but what remains to be seen is whether there will be fare wars.
In its current state, El Al may not survive a protracted fare war.
Will it be bookable with or earn JetBlue points
Hopefully both!
It’s this announcement the end of JetBlue’s plans for LON?
No, they sill plan to fly to London.
The press release specifically mentions that this does not at all affect JetBlue’s independent plans to fly to London on their own.
Hmmm
Unlikely.
I guess that’s the end of the EL AL/Jet blue codeshare…
Yup, I’d have to think so, yes. ElAl is unlikely to codeshare with an airline with a partner that competes directly with it. But it’s tricky because it leaves ElAl with nobody to codeshare with to connect passengers to other destinations in North America, which is a huge loss for them.
This announcement is bad news for ElAl in a number of ways.
Yes, that ended a long time ago.
SMART
What am I missing?
Is this a big deal ?
Yes. Since AA didn’t launch any new route from JFK for the past 4 years.
I also think the Jet blue partnership is a big deal, though that’s not mentioned in the post.
Bad news for Elal. And possibly for flyers as well, as the one airline that might be worse than Elal might be enough to push Elal away.
Heh.
Is the heh an agreement that AA is worse than elal or a disagreement?
Agreement.
I love El Al. The only reason I don’t fly them to Israel is because of my Diamond status with Delta (which is amazing, especially to Israel). El Al is heimische, I’ve always liked them.
If El al was behaving well, we would be happy to support them. But a policy of violating the Shabbat is not a good policy. They say one thing, the do otherwise.
Keep in mind, I don’t think any other airline would go out of their way to divert a plane that would land after shabbos.
The difference is that travellers would not make bad decisions on the other airlines and fly the Thursday night flight that lands Fri afternoon.
Another airline wouldn’t lie either.
Yea Ed, I have to echo and agree with Shaul’s statement. If you take any international flight on any airline with a scheduled landing a few short hours before Shabbos, the fault is on you. Min Ha’Shamayim and legally.
Best comment so far. But we’re JFK flyers and will suffer with AA if the price (in dollars or miles) is right.
I originally read the post as WOW will fly non stop! Anyway this will be great as a new competitor will bring down prices
WOW is flying nonstop for a long time until they begin to PLAY
oh, I also thought it was WOW air… AA’s good too. Why wait till next year..
m
Their like warning the potential buyer of ELAL to stay far away !
True.
Now El Al will actually have fair competition on who will have more delays….
There’s actually a possibility that LY will become the second worst carrier operationally on the route….
LOL, true.
I’ve had as miles stockpiled from when the phl flight existed
i meant AA miles.. sitting on them for years. b/c they really are pretty useless out of NJ (not worth it flying out of JFK / LGA domestically) – but for Israel, I’ll get to JFK
Can’t wait for TLV availability glitches like happened twice in 2015 😀
Flew PHL-TLV nonstop with saver business miles with the whole extended family thanks to that.
Wait until AA pulls one of them old Birds from the Graveyard to fly this route
They know they’ll have to be competitive with JFK-TLV.
Delta doesn’t seem to know that. Worst J product on the route and no PE. I would’ve expected an A359 long ago
Jfk is not a359 base. And definitely not a strong long haul base for them
Somehow I wouldn’t count on that, leave it up to AA execs to always be late to the party, follow everyone’s footsteps and then throw in the towel when it doesn’t work out. UA/LY will strongly defend their position and they have strong relations with their business class customers.
this is very welcome news, I just hope AA goes all the way and makes a real effort to make a difference… (good. Kosher food would be a start)
Actually cracked me up!
I love to see how elal goes down the drain. They deserve it.
After All they are Yiden
You shouldn’t talk & write like that, We could daven & hope they should change their attitude towards customers & keep shabbos proper etc……
After their Yiddin pilots striked and kept my 94 year old grandmother stranded on a layover in Europe for 8 hours and the same for my parents when they are probably the highest paid pilots in the world I could care less what happens to them. I switched to Delta years ago when I kept missing my connections at JFK b/c ELAL landed late, or couldn’t figure out how to get my bags out timely.
What is the approximate date?
TBD, but sometime in 2021.
What aircraft will they use?
TBD
Can you pls explain “The assumption at the time was that American couldn’t fly to Tel Aviv due to pension liabilities leftover from TWA”
American bought TWA’s assets when they went bankrupt.
TWA has millions in pension liabilities in TLV and those employees have long wanted American to make good on them.
AA needs to have operations in TLV for employees to have standing in Israeli court? Thanks,
Yes, that way they have something to seize for payment, like a Dreamliner 🙂
Thanks, this is wild sounds like Elliot management and Argentina. Amazing how AA has avoided this, any more details would be interesting
I am also wondering how this TWA issue got resolved. Did AA agree to pay them something and they settled? Did the courts rule against the TWA employees?
I’m also not entirely clear on why the employees couldn’t sue in US courts, given that both TWA and AA are US-based companies and governed under US law. Without them being able to, it would be way too easy for airlines to take advantage of employees in a foreign destination, and later just depart that destination to avoid paying.
AA didn’t buy TWA, they only bought select assets, so there was never a good legal case AFAIK.
I’m not sure it was ever resolved, may have just been bluster by the ex-TWA employees in Israel.
Bad news for jetblue mosaics? Their email mentioned loyalty benefits news to come.. Is jetblue turning towards legacy airline bs?
No, likely some reciprocal benefits.
AA is just as good as UA on international routes , Miami feeder from south america routes should prove an easy second choice destination
AA is worse than United operationally.
I do think Miami will happen eventually, but South American feed will fly via GRU, not MIA.
I fly a ton of both United and aa. Aa has gotten much better operationally and I take them over United any day of the week. Additionally, I find service on aa to be superior. Finally, given how Elal is sidelined I wouldn’t be surprised to see aa do LAX-TLV to take the elal market share and compete with United out of SFO.
Not a chance AA takes LAX-TLV.
If anyone does it will be United.
will Jetblue mosaic get you upgrades on AA on this route ?
No.
From JetBlue email.
Rest assured, as a Mosaic member, we are also working with American to consider offering the travel perks you have earned on JetBlue to your travel with American.
OK?
Mosaic upgrades on JFK-TLV are not going to happen, period.
Best case, there might be some reciprocal benefits on AA domestic routes only. It would be absolutely nuts if Mosaic suddenly translated to benefits on AA long-haul flights, makes no sense and not happening…
Free baggage on long-haul is certainly a possibility. Free upgrades, not a chance.
yes I will. Especially since I have a credit with them from my chase reward miles from a cancelled flight due to covid
Personally, unless i am in a rush, i don’t like the long 10/12 hour non-stop flights. I would much rather get a 2/3 hour stopover in Europe so i can daven like a mentch, strech my legs, use a normal bathroom, and maybe look around a little. All it does is add 3-4 hours to your trip but 2×6 is much easier than 1×12. Besides the fact that they are usually 10-20% cheaper, this makes stopovers much more attractive to me.
Most people prefer a nonstop flight. Connections not only add time, but they mean that you may misconnect or get delayed at your connection airport.
Hopefully with more nonstop competition the nonstop price will go down.
Moe, sounds like you are looking to save $$ when flying to Israel (which is okay). Unless someone plans on touring a European city, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who would prefer to make stops so they can use a urinal and daven in the dark corner of another European airport– especially with children, strollers, car seats, and diaper bags.
Unless we are counting airports for the DDF list 🙂
I do, even when the price is the same I take a stopover in Europe to be able to daven shachris like a mentch, the leg stretching and bathroom help, but I wouldn’t do it for that. Interestingly enough I’ve met a lot of people on these flights that do it for the same reasons. I agree I wouldn’t do it if traveling with kids.
-Flights to Europe are bad for sleeping, and most are red-eyes. O an 7-8 hour flight, meal service doesn’t end until at least 2 hours into it, and pre-arrival service starts 2 hours before landing, so you only have lights out for 3-4 hours. On a flight to Israel, you have closer to 6 hours to potentially sleep. It’s a big difference.
+1K
I think the disagreement depends on the class you travel…..
I agree
From Denver I would prefer to connect in London than EWR or JFK.
Please explain how this code-sharing works, is this considered as a pure JetBlue flight that will not be part of the OneWorld alliance and you can only use JetBlue or AA points, or it is considered as an AA/JetBlue flight in regard to using any OW alliance member points in addition JB points?
They are regular AA or JetBlue flights.
In other words if you want to fly from Buffalo to Tel Aviv, you can book your ticket with AA or JetBlue. JetBlue will fly you BUF-JFK and AA will fly you JFK-TLV. If you book with JetBlue then JetBlue will add their own codeshare flight number onto the AA flight and if you book with AA then AA will add their own codeshare flight number onto the JetBlue flight.
You should be able to collect miles on the airline of your choice.
another use for my overstocked qantas points. unfortunately qantas tacks on surcharges to most aa international flights
AA fuel surcharges will likely be a killer with most partner miles.
The only question at this point is which airline will beat the other to the punch – DL via ATL or AA via MIA
DL needs to catch up to the other airlines on taking ownership of the modern fuel efficient aircraft, because they’re getting beat to the punch on the routes that those aircraft were perfectly tailored for
As for El Al, I think they’re done regardless of COVID. Until TLV turns into a connecting hub (which will never happen), or they get real airline partners (that ship appears to have sailed in the U.S.), their best case scenario is an airline that shuttles jews between TLV/LHR/CDG and TLV. In their secondary markets like ORD, their O&D network just can’t compete with the hundreds of connecting options UA offers
I’d put my money on AA to MIA first.
El Al is in real trouble. They seem rudderless and lost.
I’d say so too, only because AA is in better position aircraft-wise. DL management usually mops the floor with UA, but they really blew it when it comes to taking delivery of 787s/350s/other modern aircraft meant for routes like TLV
El Al is quite a basket case. In a country famous for it’s businesses suceeding against all odds, El Al is the polar opposite.
That after AA and UA start opening up flights from secondary (aka not-NYC) cities in the U.S., it STILL doesn’t occur to them “hey, maybe we should partner with an airline who can provide us feed”. Instead of partnering with AA so that they could compete with UA at ORD, they instead abandon AA, who now not only is providing El Al much needed feed, but actually competing with them in JFK and eventually MIA (where AA will slaughter them much like UA will at ORD)
I sure hope no one outside of NYC, London, Paris and the 7th most populous city in Poland have designs to fly El Al in the future, because you’ll be out of luck
I remember those ATL direct flights on Delta to TLV. I miss them and don’t understand why they don’t restart them? The entire southern US is full of evangelicals that would love to fly thru Atlanta, rather than have to come up to JFK.
Will these flights be available through Qantas? and will the mileage redemptions stay at the same levels?
Yes, but they levy hefty fuel surcharges for AA flights.
but they themselves dont charge the surcharges ?
If you book an AA flight with AA miles then you don’t pay any fuel surcharges.
If you use partner miles then you typically pay hefty fuel surcharges on AA transoceanic flights.
yay I have over 400k AA miles
Nice!
Dan you think likely you will be able to use AA points for Jet Blue flight and Vice versa?
Yes, but it will be some time before that happens.
Dan, once again the sheer scope of your knowledge and ability to present it in an easy to read manner is mamesh gevaldig.
Thanks for the kind words 🙂
+1k
I have a ton of AA miles that, unless I am flying to CA or London, I haven’t been able to use. In any event, competition is a good thing. Any idea what equipment they might use?
TBD
I doubt American will be flying their own planes to Tel Aviv. They don’t need a codeshare with JetBlue to do that. They are, I am sure, pre-announcing that JetBlue will be launching a JFK TLV flight in 2021 with an American codeshare.
Erm, no.
It will be an American plane with a JetBlue codeshare as JetBlue has no planes with the range to fly to TLV.
@Dan, why not. AA can use B6’s E190’s and make 50 stops along that way.
This way they can keep up their reputation!
Even once JetBlue starts JFK-LON, they still might not be in the range to fly to the Middle East, even if they wanted to.
It’s not even close.
What they fly now doesn’t have to equal what they will be flying in 2021. However now I read (a) that they were also planning to launch a DFW to TLV flight, and (b) that the news release explicitly says it will be an AA flight, I see I am probably wrong. I just don’t see why it needs a codeshare with JetBlue to make it happen.
1. Aircraft orders are made public years in advance. JetBlue has nothing on order that can fly to TLV. It’s not happening anytime soon. Full stop.
2. I wrote about the Dallas flight in this post.
3. AA doesn’t have enough feed to make new JFK long-hauls work. They need the JetBlue feed to make the numbers work, hence the new partnership and codesharing.
Also, if I am not mistaken, it is impossible for JB to use aircraft that can fly long haul from their business structure standpoint. These LCC & ULCC airlines are designed to use a systematic approach, rather than 1 off routes. Long haul is a completely different business. Only legacy carriers can play both games at once.
Certainly not impossible
Barry, I’m no expert, but typically, aircraft orders are years in the making. You won’t see Jetblue JFK-TLV in 2021. The codeshare allows easier booking options for those on Jetblue’s network (such as Buffalo, Pittsburgh, etc) to fly connecting through JFK on AA
Yemos hamashiah that’s why so many airlines are getting ready to be able to supply the feed no worries about prices/cost or points which cares. We will need to be able to make it 3 times a year BHM. Little by little the puzzle is giving a clearer picture. Let’s keep hopeful and keep davening
So when Mashiach comes, only Jews from the NYC metro area will be redeemed? What about all the routes around the world that ElAl may likely never (or severely be delayed) to return to?
That’s what the Jet blue codeshare is for. So it can connect US passengers via JFK. The preparation for moshiach is that we now have many international airlines flying to TLV, so we won’t need ELAL to pack us in planes like they did to the Yemenites and Ethiopians.
Love this!
I have a ton AA mileage that I’ve accrued flying from JFK to HKG via LAX on AA operated flights. I also have EP status so this is fantastic news to me. Any guess at what mileage requirement for economy/business/first to fly from JFK to TLV. If you had the throw a number out there.
The one-way AA partner saver award rates to TLV are:
40K coach
62.5K premium
70K business
115K first
However AA is stingy with saver award space on their own flights.
Partner saver awards? Won’t this be an AA operated flight or just marketed?
AA doesn’t have a middle east award chart for their own flights yet.
I know. Was just asking if you had to take a hunch what would a mileage economy coach ticket cost.
If this causes the Elal-JetBlue partnership to end (likely), there’s still a perfect Shidduch for Elal – Spirit! They both provide the same level of excellent service flyers of each airline have come to expect over the years.
LOL, oy vey.
As in minyanim on spirit?
I dont think i would fly American Airlines even if it was FREE!!! I have had so many bad customer experiences with them that i cant seem to ever fly with them again. (unless they change their ways of course)
I think i will start a petition to have them remove the name American from their name as there is nothing American about them, I think Jetblue should have that name!!!
We still have PTSD from our London fiAAsco.
More than likely I’ll stick with United since I’m 1K however I may fly AA if the price is right and use the accumulated miles to fly First Class on Cathay to Asia.
With Hong Kong in turmoil and disruption, I wouldn’t count on Cathay First or even Cathay as a whole being around forever.
Thank you Dan for all information!
Could you please update us about the situation of South American Airlines with the Pandemic? As Laram, Azul? Gol, Avianca… Thank you!
Things are bleak. I’ve written about the bankruptcies of Avianca and LATAM already.
AA keeps closing mileage accounts and thier customer service stinks worse then delta and United I stay away from them I dont touch this horrible airline
Can we use Avios for Jfk-Tlv on AA ? Any idea What would be the costs ?
One-way:
Coach: 31,000 Avios
Business: 92,750 Avios
First: 123,750 Avios
However there are typically hefty fuel surcharges when redeeming partner miles for AA transoceanic flights.
Right .
Ok thanks
I can see aa become partners with elal again win for both. The only way elal can gain market is to a have true partnership with a major us carrier.
Aa seems to be undoing all the mistakes
Cut off Alaska – back together
Cut off Jetblue – back together
Cut off Elal – coming back soon ?
I don’t see that happening.
Is Jetblue’s owner a Yid?
It’s a publicly traded company.
Forgive my ignorance here – but does this in any way mean we can book this with Avios award flights? Like if I convert my Amex/Chase points to BA, would I be able to book these AA flights? Or no because it’s via B6 codeshare?
https://www.dansdeals.com/airfare-deals/israel-flights/american-will-fly-nonstop-jfk-tel-aviv/#comment-1482662
very cool thanks. Honestly, my only hesitation would be that AA really isnt a great airline. Not that Elal was, but Delta is just so far superior to AA and UA…
I don’t think I’ve ever flown American or USAirways to Tel Aviv. Did they have good service? How’s their caterer?
Typical US carrier, nothing memorable for service, Borenstein/hamasbia meals.
Hey. Masbia of Boro Park is a soup kitchen. ELAL should give free seats to the people coming to eat
AA Kosher meals and Elal Regal meals will probably essentially the same on the route as AA buys from Borenstein.
American Airlines Warns 25,000 Workers They Could Lose Jobs https://apnews.com/73dcb59362bc05c22e266d6613530022
hopefully the people who terrorized advantage members will be dismissed.
I would’ve preferred PHL and despise JFK. Driving there is a $100 or so cost in tolls & such from Philadelphia area.
Curious if anyone on TLV route has considered on occasion to use the slew of “gently pre-owned” A380 sitting around from our cousins airlines and increase capacity out of NY but with one flight.
Burning 85-90K AA or United miles to TLV is not such a deal when the same distance to, say, Buenos Aires can be had for 50K and less.
Now all we need is the ability to transfer bank points (citi?) to AA
Will this mean I could use my jb travel Bank on American flights? I barely fly jb but I fly American a decent amount…
Dan, Would BA points work for TLV flight on AA? Would this be a good option for Cleveland AA connecting flight to TLV?
They had a great Philadelphia flight I was on one of there final ones very happy flying with them from there
Dan can u explain a little what the mirage means for mileage lovers?
Come again?
Thanks Dan for clarifying the news. As usual.
As soon as I saw the Email from AA about the deal with Jetblue, I came to DD to understand what’s really in it.
Does this make it more worthwhile to aim for the Million Miler Lifetime Elite Status?
Sure
If AA took away our miles and if I fly aa again will I be able to accumulate miles
No
when will they start selling seats?
TBD.
Hi Dan, any idea if those vouchers that we won thanks to you for essential healthcare personnel will work to Israel as officially it works for anywhere that jetblue flies?
They will not as this is not a JetBlue flight.
Save them for the London flights.
Hopefully Delta will now put their flagship A350 on JFK-TLV route. The A330 is lame
This is good news
Dan, when do you think AA will announce the schedule for these flights and the aircraft?
I would only fly American as long as Dan isn’t on the flight.
Dan onboard an AA Flight=Delayed Flight
Any chances that AA will be the only airline with nonstop first class from North America to TLV?
It’s a possibility, though small.
Too bad not Direct flight from DTW to TLV.
Dan, nyc to tlv, American or JB (same time, same price), who’s better?