(TAN): American Airlines will adjust its long-haul international schedule for winter 2020 through summer 2021, as Hawaiian Airlines prepares to welcome back visitors from the US mainland.
American expects summer 2021 long-haul international capacity to be down 25% compared to 2019. The airline’s Chief Revenue Officer Vasu Raja said, “COVID-19 has forced us to reevaluate our network…. American will have a significantly smaller international network in the year ahead, but we are using this opportunity to hit reset and create a network using the strength of our strategic hubs that we can build and grow upon and be profitable in this new environment.”
“American has spent the past few years right-sizing its international network, discontinuing underperforming routes while adding leisure destinations like Dubrovnik and Prague,” said Brian Znotins, American’s vice president of network planning. “Now, as demand has significantly diminished due to COVID-19, we have to be nimble, creating the network that our customers desire.”
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American will exit several routes, including three trans-Atlantic routes from both Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). It will also exit five underperforming routes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to destinations in Asia and South America, concentrating on the hub’s domestic strength.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) will be the airline’s major trans-Pacific hub while Miami International Airport (MIA) will continue to be the preeminent hub for flights to the Caribbean and Latin America. Once government restrictions on trans-Atlantic flying subside, PHL will continue to be American’s primary hub for service to Europe.
No change fees for American flights booked by July 31
American Airlines is expanding waived change fees for customers booking tickets for any new travel purchased by July 31, 2020. Any first, business, Premium Economy, and Main Cabin tickets purchased on or before July 31, 2020, for future travel will not incur change fees prior to travel. The offer excludes Basic Economy and AAdvantage award tickets. Customers must pay any fare difference, if applicable, and fare rules may apply depending on the ticket.
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American currently has a change fee waiver in place for all tickets, including Basic Economy and AAdvantage award tickets, for travel through Sept. 30, 2020.
Hawaiian Airlines to resume most services to US mainland cities in August
Hawaiian Airlines will resume a reduced schedule between Hawaii and most of its US mainland gateway cities on Aug. 1, when the state of Hawaii begins welcoming travelers who choose to take part in a pre-travel COVID-19 testing program being developed. Hawaiian will also increase neighbour island flights to offer guests more seamless connectivity between O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui and the Island of Hawaii.
“The layered safety measures put in place to protect the health of our local communities promise to make travel to and from Hawai’i more accessible than in recent months,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO at Hawaiian Airlines. “We look forward to welcoming onboard guests who support and observe the protocols in place for responsible travel, including our visitors and kama’aina reconnecting with family and friends on the U.S. mainland.”
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The airline, which suspended most of its flying in late March due to the pandemic and the state’s ensuing quarantine order for arriving passengers, has been operating a reduced neighbor island network and once-daily service between Honolulu and Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco to support essential flights and critical cargo transportation.
From Aug. 1, when Hawaii begins waiving its quarantine requirement for travelers who test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure, the carrier will resume nonstop service between Honolulu and Boston, New York, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Jose and Oakland.
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