American Airlines Inc. plans to halt flights between the U.S. and Israel early next year amid mounting losses on a route that has never been profitable.
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“At the six-year mark, we have yet to turn a profit on this route”, Rhett Workman, American’s managing director of government and airport affairs, says to The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Unfortunately, that has not been the case”.
Despite the continuation of that route, American said it remains committed continuing Philadelphia’s role as an worldwide hub – even after the merger. “It’s a very tough decision”.
US Airways, which is now part of American, does not serve Tel Aviv from any other city.
American merged with US Airways in December of 2013.
Passengers on the inaugural flight said they were appreciative to have another option for flying directly to Israel, and said the fares were cheaper than those from other cities.
This means that the world’s largest airline will no longer fly to Israel and Philadelphia loses a key global direct flight.
American spokeswoman Jenna Arnold said “Customers can still access Tel Aviv through our joint business partner British Airways via London or through our codeshare relationship with El Al via our European gateways such as London, Paris, Madrid and Frankfurt”.
“We looked at every single option with every single aircraft that we have”, Workman said.
In a message to employees, the airline said the route “has never been profitable for our airline”.
American will close its station in Tel Aviv, and will not fly the 5,700-mile route from another city. At 5,740 miles, the flight has been the longest in the US Airways system.
The last flight out will be January 4, and the last flight in from Israel will be January 5.
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TheStreet.com adds additional perspective, noting that the 2009 addition US Airways’ Philly-Tel Aviv route “was considered a sign of Philadelphia’s growing importance as the carrier’s primary worldwide hub as well as of US Airways’ expanding global reach”.
