The trade war between the United States and China has taken to the skies. The imposition of new tariffs by the Trump administration in early 2025, as part of a renewed trade war with China and other trading partners, has caused significant turbulence in the American aviation industry. Companies like Delta, United, and American Airlines, which had expected record profits this year, have been forced to change their forecasts due to declining demand, rising costs, and sharp drops in stock prices. The announcement of tariffs of up to 145% on imports from China has led to sharp declines in stock markets, with airline stocks taking a particularly severe hit.

Stocks of major American airlines – Delta, United, and American Airlines – have plummeted between 30% and 40% since the beginning of the year. United dropped by 30% since the start of 2025, Delta lost 38% of its value, and American Airlines fell by 42%. These declines reflect growing concerns about the impact of tariffs on flight demand, especially among business travelers, as well as increasing operating costs.

Meanwhile, as reported by Bloomberg, China has banned its airlines from purchasing Boeing aircraft. According to the report, Beijing has also demanded a halt to purchasing equipment and spare parts for aircraft from American companies.

Airlines have implemented drastic measures to cope with the situation. Delta canceled its forecasts for 2025, noting that growth "has largely stalled" due to economic uncertainty. United published two different profitability forecasts, one describing a recession scenario. Other companies, such as American and Southwest, have scaled back their expansion plans and focused on cost reduction strategies.

The new tariffs have also significantly altered consumer behavior. There has been a noticeable decline in flight bookings, especially in premium classes. Travelers from Canada and other countries are increasingly avoiding trips to the United States due to elevated costs, and demand for domestic flights within the US has weakened, raising serious concerns about an economic slowdown.

The tariffs have also created substantial challenges for aircraft manufacturers. Boeing, whose stock has fallen by 10% since the beginning of the year, is dealing with a freeze on shipments to China, which could have far-reaching consequences for the entire American aviation industry. The rise in raw material prices, such as aluminum and steel, increases production costs and makes it increasingly difficult for airlines to maintain profitability.

The tariffs imposed in early 2025 have created significant uncertainty throughout the American aviation industry. Airlines are grappling with declining demand, rising costs, and falling stock prices. The situation requires them to adapt quickly to the new reality, while reassessing expansion plans and implementing more aggressive cost-cutting measures.

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Until the onset of the war, three US airlines operated in Israel. During the conflict, two briefly resumed operations - only to suspended them later. At present, no US airline is offering direct flights to Israel.

The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has now been in place for over a month, with the northern border remaining quiet. While several airlines have announced plans to resume service to Israel, American carriers are yet to follow suit. Discussions with industry insiders suggest that a partial return may happen around the summer schedule for some US airlines, albeit with lower frequency compared to pre-war operations.

At this time, no definitive announcements have been made regarding the return of any US airline in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, several European carriers, including Lufthansa, ITA Airways, Swiss, and others, have already resumed flights to Israel, offering connection options to the US via Europe.

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A technical disruption briefly halted American Airlines flights across the United States early Tuesday, creating potential complications for holiday travelers, ABC News reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration implemented a ground stop for all American Airlines flights after the carrier reported system-wide technical problems. The disruption lasted approximately one hour before flights resumed boarding, and the FAA lifted the nationwide halt.

"A vendor technology issue briefly affected flights this morning," American Airlines said in a statement. "That issue has been resolved, and flights have resumed."

The airline addressed customers directly about the incident. "We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this morning," the statement said. "It's all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible."

Early Tuesday, American Airlines posted on X about "a technical issue with all American Airlines flights," noting that passenger safety remained their primary concern. The carrier responded to passenger inquiries on social media, indicating they could not provide specific timeframes for resolution.

The disruption comes during what is expected to be a record-breaking holiday travel season. The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening nearly 40 million travelers between Dec. 19 and Jan. 2 – representing a 6.2% increase from 2023.

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In a significant development for US-Israel air travel, Israel's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has initiated talks with US regulators to enable Israir Airlines to operate direct flights to New York. The airline is simultaneously exploring options to wet-lease two wide-body aircraft for these operations, though the approval process could take several months. The carrier aims to launch direct service between Tel Aviv and Newark during the upcoming winter season.

The airline faces several hurdles before finalizing these plans. The lease agreement remains unsigned, and multiple complex conditions must be satisfied, including securing necessary US regulatory approvals and addressing challenges related to Israel's aviation services law regarding Israir's proposed expansion.

Under the proposed wet-lease structure, Israir would utilize aircraft and crews from a foreign carrier while operating flights under its own designation. Though negotiations continue, Israel's Transportation Ministry has granted preliminary approval from the Israeli perspective, marking an initial step in the complex process of establishing direct US routes.

The CAA has commenced discussions with US authorities to secure necessary approvals – a process that typically spans three months under normal circumstances. Officials are working to expedite these procedures, seeking rapid clearance for security requirements, landing slots, and other essential permits. This represents the beginning of an intricate process requiring multiple regulatory approvals and successful lease negotiations, suggesting a potentially extended timeline before implementation.

In the current landscape, El Al is the sole carrier maintaining direct New York service following the withdrawal of US airlines from the Israeli market. American Airlines suspended its Israel routes through September 2025, while United Airlines indefinitely halted services, and Delta suspended operations through March 2025.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev endorsed the initiative: "I thank the CAA for their thorough work that enables significant relief in the flight crisis created due to the war. Israeli companies are demonstrating national responsibility in their mobilization during this challenging period. I commend Rami Levy and Israir Airlines for their initiative to operate a New York route, a step that will contribute to healthy competition, expanded options for the public, and lower flight prices."

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All American Airlines flights have been removed from booking systems until April 2025, travel agents have informed Israel Hayom. We attempted to receive a response from the company's Israeli representatives, but none has been received so far.

While all US-based airlines have currently halted their flights to Israel, some continued operations during the Swords of Iron War for a time. American Airlines, meanwhile, has not resumed flights to Israel since the conflict began.

We contacted the American Airlines reservation center, where we tried to book a flight for December, a month during which the airline was expected to operate in Israel. According to their latest announcement, the airline had planned to resume flights to Israel at the end of October.

The representative tried to help us find a flight but was surprised to discover that there are no direct American Airlines flights in the system and that it is not possible to book flights to Israel for the upcoming winter months.

Simultaneously, we tried to book American Airlines flights through their website, but there are also no direct flights available to or from Israel.

It's important to note that no official statement has yet been released by American Airlines. We have requested a response, and it will be published once received.

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Four American Airlines flight attendants were injured during turbulence on a flight from Tampa to Charlotte and were hospitalized for evaluation, though the extent of injuries was not disclosed. The flight with 154 passengers landed safely.

Experts suggest turbulence incidents may be increasing due to climate change. Larger airplanes are less affected. Other airlines like Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, LATAM Airlines have also experienced severe turbulence, resulting in injuries and a fatality. Korean Air has stopped serving instant ramen as a precaution.

Turbulence is an irregular air motion caused by airflow disruption over the wing, which can lead to injuries or fatalities in severe cases. Airlines must prioritize safety by implementing measures to prevent and mitigate risks.

Sources: USA Today, Newsweek, New York Post, Fox News, USA News, iHeart, DimSum Daily

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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A passenger on American Airlines has taken to Reddit to voice their outrage over allegedly receiving moldy and rancid kosher meals on a flight she recently took with the airline from Barcelona to New York's JFK airport, showing a picture of the meal. The reaction she received from the staff after complaining created an online firestorm. Israel Hayom could not confirm the accuracy of her claims and the authenticity of the picture.

In a post to the r/americanairlines subreddit, the user claims that "every single kosher meal breakfast and dinner was moldy and rancid" on their recent flight with the airline.

All of the in flight kosher meals from BCN to JFK looked like this
byu/Duty_free_USA inamericanairlines

When the passenger approached a flight attendant with the issue, they were apparently told told that if unsatisfied with the meal, they should "reach out to the kosher food company directly" as it was not an American Airlines issue. "Is the Flight attendant right? Or should I reach out to American Airlines about this issue?" the Redditor asked. The post has sparked a lively discussion, with many weighing in that the airline should be held accountable for supposedly providing subpar and potentially unsafe meal options, regardless of whether the meals are sourced from a third-party vendor.

American Airlines issued the following statement in response to an Israel Hayom inquiry:  "We take great pride in our inflight food and beverage offerings, and the meal – as depicted in the photo – does not meet American's quality standards. We are currently working alongside our catering partners to further investigate this report."

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The US Department of Transportation has informed Jerusalem its decision to ban US airlines from operating flights to Tel Aviv is a flagrant violation of bilateral aviation accords, US media outlets reported, Saturday.

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If Israel continues to ban US airlines from operating flights, including those aimed at rescuing citizens stranded overseas, to Tel Aviv this weekend, the department said it would prevent El Al airplanes from landing in the country.

Outside of rescue flights, Ben-Gurion Airport has been ordered shut until Jan. 21 at the earliest to prevent mutations of the coronavirus from entering Israel.

Israel's flag carrier is currently the only airline to operate rescue flights on the Tel Aviv- New York route.

The US announcement has significance for Israel's decision to shutter Ben Gurion International Airport, as United and Delta are two of the world's largest airlines to operate in Israel.

The Transportation Ministry was set to convene, Sunday, to examine how to address US disapproval with the move. Should Israel allow US airlines to fly to Tel Aviv, other countries will likely join the protest.

In routine times, the two US airlines operate dozens of flights between Israel and the US every month. While a majority of carriers ceased to operate their Israel flights, United Airlines was one of the few carriers that continued to fly to Tel Aviv during the pandemic. Although it does not currently fly to Tel Aviv, American Airlines announced it would begin to operate a Tel Aviv – Miami route this summer.

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American Airlines is scheduled to begin a new direct flight this spring between New York and Israel, traveling to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport and Ben-Gurion International Airport.

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While the new direct route was announced in July, the date for the new launch (May 6) and the date for ticket sales (Jan. 25) are new.

Flights will feature kosher food available for pre-order and kosher wine for passengers, regardless of their seating.

Additionally, a direct American Airlines route between Dallas and Tel Aviv is scheduled to begin in September.

American Airlines previously operated flights between Philadelphia and Tel Aviv; that route ended in 2015.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org

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It will be the first time the Texas-based carrier has flown to Ben-Gurion International Airport since it dropped its Philadelphia-Tel Aviv route in 2015 over losses which amounted to $20 million annually.

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"It's a huge validation of the tremendous economic growth in North Texas and its immense potential," said Vasu Raja, the airline's vice president of planning. "When you look at the marketplace, Tel Aviv is really the largest underserved destination in the American Airlines network."

"I am thrilled to see American Airlines open a direct flight to Israel from Texas," said Consul General of Israel to the Southwest United States Gilad Katz in a statement. "This flight demonstrates the important bond Israel and Texas share while continuing to strengthen business and tourism ties between us. This new route highlights the growing demand from Americans and Israelis who are interested in learning more about one another."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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