American Airlines Announces Additional Schedule Changes in Response to Customer Demand Related to COVID-19

Saturday, March 14, 2020, 10:40 PM

Download PDF (English) PDF Format (opens in new window) FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) 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
• 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)
• 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, the airline 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.

International Route Changes

By region, the new schedule changes include the following:

Asia, effective March 16

• American will suspend all remaining flights to Asia, except for three flights per week from DFW to NRT

Australia and New Zealand, effective March 16

• Suspending service from Los Angeles (LAX) to Auckland (AKL) effective March 16, which was slated to end seasonal flying on March 28
• Suspending service from LAX to Sydney (SYD) effective March 16

Europe, phased suspension

• American will continue to operate one flight daily from DFW to LHR and MIA to LHR
• Suspending flights from New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), and LAX to LHR gradually over the next seven days to reaccommodate passengers and crew
• 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
• 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

South America, effective March 16

• Suspending service from JFK and MIA to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and Georgetown, Guyana (GEO)
• Suspending service from DFW, JFK and MIA to São Paulo (GRU)
• Suspending service from DFW and MIA to:
  • Chile: Santiago (SCL)
  • Colombia: Bogota (BOG)
  • Ecuador: Guayaquil (GYE) and Quito (UIO)
  • Peru: Lima (LIM)
• Suspending service from MIA to:
  • Brazil: Brasilia (BSB) and Manaus (MAO)
  • Colombia: Barranquilla (BAQ), Cartagena (CTG), Cali (CLO), Medellin (MDE) and Pereira (PEI)

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.

Taking care of customers

American will continue to take care of customers as this situation develops. The airline 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.

Updated Asia schedules:

Origin Destination Schedule change DFW Tokyo-Haneda (HND) Delayed inaugural flight; moved to May DFW Hong Kong (HKG) Suspended March 16 through July 1 LAX Tokyo-Haneda (HND) Suspended March 16 through May 6 LAX Tokyo-Narita (NRT) Suspended March 16 through May 6

Updated Australia schedules:

Origin Destination Schedule change LAX Auckland (AKL) Final westbound flight will return to LAX on March 18; seasonal service is slated to begin again in October LAX Sydney (SYD) Final westbound flight will return to LAX on March 18; service suspended through May 6

Updated Europe schedules:

Origin Destination Schedule change BOS London (LHR) Delayed inaugural flight; moved to May CLT London (LHR) Final eastbound flight on March 15; final westbound flight on March 16 JFK London (LHR) Phased suspension gradually implemented between March 16 and March 23; suspended through May 6 LAX London (LHR) Phased suspension gradually implemented between March 16 and March 23; suspended through May 6 PHL London (LHR) Final eastbound flight on March 15; final westbound flight on March 16 PHX London (LHR) Final eastbound flight on March 15; final westbound flight on March 16 ORD London (LHR) Phased suspension gradually implemented between March 16 and March 23; suspended through May 6

Updated South America schedules:

Origin Destination Schedule change DFW Bogota (BOG) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 DFW São Paulo (GRU) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through June 3 DFW Guayaquil (GYE) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 DFW Santiago (SCL) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through June 3 DFW Quito (UIO) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 DFW Lima (LIM) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 JFK Georgetown (GEO) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 JFK Rio de Janeiro (GIG) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 JFK São Paulo (GRU) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Barranquilla (BAQ) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Bogota (BOG) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Brasilia (BSB) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Cali (CLO) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Cartagena (CTG) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Georgetown (GEO) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Guayaquil (GYE) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Rio de Janeiro (GIG) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Lima (LIM) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Manaus (MAO) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Medellin (MDE) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Pereira (PEI) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Quito (UIO) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA São Paulo (GRU) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6 MIA Santiago (SCL) Will fly all legs as scheduled through end of day on March 16; suspended through May 6