I know AA stated they lost $20 million on their PHL-TLV route and the route was being canceled for financial reasons. However, from what I understand that a group of former TWA employees reached a settlement with AA but the settlement money allegedly was never paid. AA cannot operate into TLV and avoid addressing this issue.

I think post merger AA can do well in TLV operating ORD-TLV rather than PHL-TLV.

I had no problems booking summertime Milesaver J seats to TXL this summer. From my station, there were two seats available almost every day in August. That can't be a good sign for the advance bookings on PHL-TXL. I'll take it though, headed to DME on AA/S7 with no BA surcharges..

I would be very surprised, if the TXL-route returns in 2020.

To me, as a German, Berlin is highly overrated, as a tourist attraction. It's okay for a 2-day trip and/or if one chooses to explore the pub/club scene; I don't see many further attractions for tourists, within a 100-mile radius.
And as a business route, it shouldn't work, due to the short season. Furthermore the hard product will not attract many Germans, to choose AA over DL to JFK.

I seem to recall that US actually flew PHL-Berlin at one time. If so, there is some experience. Also, this new AA PHL-TXL route will be the only non-stop One World service from any U.S. City to Berlin.

I would have thought with previous ORD-DUS they would have initiated PHL-DUS before PHL-TXL. Of course it would have been ideal when Air Berlin was still around but AA now seems to be doing point to point in Europe instead of funneling everything through LHR and MAD. They used to have a weak network to Europe but with US and PHL hub they now have a much better network to Europe - and DFW seems to be getting new routes as well.

US never flew to Berlin.
Dropped Euro cities include OSL, ARN, BHX, MXP and LGW but not TXL or SXF.

why not fly JFK-SVO-SXF to change things up? might be more appealing/interesting than taking the 767.

Yes, but one can't really expect much origin and destination demand on PHL-TXL. It's really competing xxx-PHL-TXL, and oneworld already has a lot of North America-origin xxx-LHR-TXL for that. AA and BA have the JV and must think it's worth the duplication, however - at least as a seasonal effort. We'll know more if it comes back for 2020.

If I recall correctly, AA used to fly to TXL in the early/mid 90s.

Not sure, if to/from ORD or JFK.

Perhaps they'll be able to fly to BER in 2020??? ;)

I took the liberty to correct your typo...!