Two of the three have resumed, but only to Tel Aviv. Delta restarts New York JFK to Tel Aviv on 6 September and United restarts Newark to Tel Aviv on 8 September. American is not flying to the Middle East at all.
The Gulf answer is different, and it differs by airline. Delta launches Atlanta to Riyadh on 23 October, United’s Newark to Dubai route has no restart date, and American has left Doha for good.
Where Each Airline Stands
Delta Air Lines
Delta flies the A330-900neo to Tel Aviv and will use an A350-900 on Atlanta to Riyadh, daily for the first week and three times weekly after that. Riyadh is Delta’s first Saudi route and the only US nonstop to the Gulf scheduled to start this year.
United Airlines
Newark to Tel Aviv returns twice daily on a Boeing 787. Newark to Dubai is a different story: suspended since the conflict began, no restart date published, and the alert window extended more than once. Do not treat a Dubai flight number in a timetable as a flight that will operate.
American Airlines
American has no Middle East flying and no near-term plan to return. Philadelphia to Doha is gone permanently, removed from the schedule in June 2026 as a network and fleet decision rather than a pause, and Qatar Airways has flown it daily since 1 August on an A350-900. That is a different airline and a separate booking. New York JFK to Tel Aviv stays suspended, and the 6 January 2027 date in American’s alert is the earliest window it has pointed to, not a promise.
🏷️
Find the best American Airlines promo code on Wego and save up to USD 15 when you book.
Status at a Glance
| Airline | Route | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Delta | New York JFK to Tel Aviv | Restarts 6 September 2026, daily |
| Delta | Atlanta to Tel Aviv | Paused through 18 December 2026 |
| Delta | Boston to Tel Aviv | Delayed until further notice |
| Delta | Atlanta to Riyadh | Launches 23 October 2026 |
| United | Newark to Tel Aviv | Restarts 8 September 2026, twice daily |
| United | Newark to Dubai | Suspended, no restart date published |
| American | New York JFK to Tel Aviv | Suspended, alert covers travel to 6 January 2027 |
| American | Philadelphia to Doha | Cancelled permanently. Qatar Airways flies it daily |
Confirm the flight in your own booking before you pay for a connection, a hotel or anything else that is not refundable.
Refunds and Rebooking
Under US Department of Transportation rules, you are due an automatic refund when an airline cancels or significantly changes a covered flight and you do not accept the alternative. It goes back to the original payment method, within seven business days for a credit card and 20 calendar days otherwise. If a travel agent or booking site is the company on your payment statement, that company may be the one that owes you the refund.
Delta. Its Tel Aviv waiver covers travel from 28 February to 18 December 2026 on tickets issued on or before 20 May 2026. You can rebook with no fare difference in the same cabin provided travel begins by 15 April 2027, or cancel for a refund of the unflown ticket and eligible extras, or take an eCredit. Make changes through My Trips.
United. Its Middle East alert lets eligible customers rebook with change fees and fare differences waived within the alert’s conditions, or cancel for a full refund. The alert sets its own travel window, so check it against your ticket in My Trips.
American. Eligible passengers may make one change, keeping the same cities and cabin, or cancel and request a refund. Check the ticketing conditions on American’s alert before you change anything.
If You Need the Gulf Before These Routes Return
Until 23 October, no US airline flies nonstop between the United States and the Gulf. The practical route is a Gulf carrier: Emirates from Dubai, Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Qatar Airways from Doha all fly long-haul to North America while most Western carriers have paused Gulf routes into late October.
Compare one-stop options on Wego and check the operating carrier on every leg, because on a codeshare the operator decides whether the flight goes. Before booking, read the current GCC airspace and airline status and check the live airport status tracker for your hub on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have US airlines resumed Middle East flights?
To Tel Aviv, yes. Delta restarts New York JFK to Tel Aviv on 6 September 2026 and United restarts Newark to Tel Aviv on 8 September. To the Gulf, no. The first US nonstop back is Delta’s Atlanta to Riyadh service on 23 October 2026.
Can I fly to Dubai on a US airline right now?
No. United’s Newark to Dubai service is suspended and the airline has not published a restart date. Fly a Gulf carrier or connect through another hub, and confirm the operating airline on every leg.
What happened to American’s Philadelphia to Doha flight?
American cancelled it permanently in June 2026 and removed all future flights from its schedule, calling it a network and fleet decision. Qatar Airways has operated Doha to Philadelphia daily since 1 August 2026 on an Airbus A350-900. That is a separate booking on a different airline.
Is it safe to fly to the Middle East right now?
There is no single answer for the region. The US State Department has the Gulf states at Level 3, reconsider travel, and Iran and Iraq at Level 4, do not travel. Strikes between the US and Iran are continuing. Check the advisory for every destination and transit point, and confirm the flight with the operating airline on the day.
Sources
- Delta News Hub (the 6 September New York JFK to Tel Aviv restart and aircraft type)
- Delta News Hub (Atlanta paused through 18 December and Boston delayed until further notice)
- Delta News Hub (the 23 October Atlanta to Riyadh launch, aircraft and frequency)
- Delta (waiver ticketing dates, travel window and the 15 April 2027 rebooking deadline)
- United Airlines travel alerts (Tel Aviv and Dubai status and the Middle East flexibility terms)
- American Airlines travel alerts (Tel Aviv affected-travel window and change or refund options)
- The Philadelphia Inquirer (American’s permanent removal of Philadelphia to Doha and Qatar Airways taking the route from 1 August)
- US Department of Transportation (automatic refund rules and payment deadlines)
- US State Department (current advisory levels for the region)
- FAA (prohibitions and restrictions on US operators in Middle East airspace)
- The National (which carriers are flying to the Gulf and which have paused into late October)
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
