(TAN): American Airlines Group Inc. will implement a phased suspension of additional long-haul international flights from the U.S. starting on March 16. This suspension will last through May 6. This change is in response to decreased demand and changes to U.S. government travel restrictions due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
The airline will reduce international capacity by 75% year over year — from March 16 to May 6. It will continue to operate one flight daily from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to London (LHR), one flight daily from Miami (MIA) to LHR and three flights per week from DFW to Tokyo (NRT).
American will continue short-haul international flying, which includes flights to Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America and certain markets in the northern part of South America, as scheduled.
In addition to the international changes, American Airlines anticipates its domestic capacity in April will be reduced by 20% compared to last year and May’s domestic capacity will be reduced by 30% on a year over year basis.
American will suspend all remaining flights to Asia, except for three flights per week from DFW to NRT.
Service from Los Angeles (LAX) to Auckland (AKL) will be suspended effective March 16, which was slated to end seasonal flying on March 28. Also, service from LAX to Sydney (SYD) will be suspended effective March 16.
In Europe, American Airlines will continue to operate one flight daily from DFW to LHR and MIA to LHR. Flights from New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), and LAX to LHR will be suspended gradually over the next seven days to reaccommodate passengers and crew.
[ALSO READ: Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announces first project in Fort Worth, Texas]
LHR, Dublin (DUB) and Manchester (MAN) flights from Charlotte (CLT), Philadelphia (PHL) and Phoenix (PHX) will be suspended faster, as these airports are not approved gateways by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Final eastbound flights from CLT, PHL and PHX will be on March 15; final westbound flights returning from LHR, DUB and MAN will depart March 16.
There will be continued suspensions in other parts of Europe, as previously announced, including the delayed start of some seasonal routes as well as flights to and from Amsterdam (AMS), Barcelona (BCN), Frankfurt (FRA), Madrid (MAD) and Munich (MUC) Paris (CDG) and Zurich (ZRH) through early May, or later, based on guidance from the U.S. government and customer demand.
In South America, service from JFK and MIA to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and Georgetown, Guyana (GEO) and service from DFW, JFK and MIA to São Paulo (GRU) will be suspended. Additionally, service from DFW and MIA to Chile: Santiago (SCL), Colombia: Bogota (BOG), Ecuador: Guayaquil (GYE) and Quito (UIO), Peru: Lima (LIM) and service from MIA to Brazil: Brasilia (BSB) and Manaus (MAO) and Colombia: Barranquilla (BAQ), Cartagena (CTG), Cali (CLO), Medellin (MDE) and Pereira (PEI) will be suspended.
[ALSO READ: Coronavirus could cost 50 million tourism jobs, three months of global travel]
These capacity reductions assume no slot waivers are in place other than those previously granted. At airports where demand exceeds airfield and/or terminal capacity, access is governed by slots that grant airlines permission to take off and land at specific times. Given the decrease in demand related to COVID-19, American has requested temporary relief from this usage requirement — otherwise known as requesting a slot waiver — to better align capacity with demand without the risk of losing valuable takeoff and landing slots for the future. American will continue to review its network and make adjustments as needed if waivers are granted.
American Airlines will continue to take care of customers as this situation develops. It has announced its offer to waive change fees for customers who purchased tickets prior to March 15 for travel to Europe, including the United Kingdom or Ireland, through May 31. Additionally, American’s Reservations team will contact customers whose flights have been canceled directly by email or telephone. Customers who booked through a travel agent will be contacted by their agency directly. If a flight is canceled and a customer chooses not to be rebooked, they may request a full refund by visiting aa.com/refunds.
Related posts:
Austrian Airlines to temporarily suspend flight operations
American Airlines announces additional schedule suspensions
American Airlines donates more than 81,000 pounds of food to Area Food Banks in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and Phoenix
Seabourn extends pause to global ship operations through June 30, 2020
