Nov 16, 2020, 3:47 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA has announced a December 2020 passenger flight reduction to / from London Heathrow / LHR.
Key points per the CNBC article (link)
“American Airlines plans to cut much of its service to London next month from major U.S. airports due to weak demand in the pandemic, the carrier said Sunday.
The move comes as coronavirus cases have climbed in both countries and officials instated new restrictions in response to help curb the spread of the virus, driving down demand on what was one of the most profitable and popular international routes pre-pandemic.
The carrier won’t operate flights from Charlotte, New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow next month, a total of 16 weekly flights to London. Customers in Chicago and New York can alternatively book on British Airways, American’s trans-Atlantic partner. American will continue to operate cargo-only flights from Chicago and New York and London, ‘until daily passenger service resumes in January,’ a spokeswoman said in a statement. No other American Airlines December Europe service was cancelled over the weekend.”
Link to CNBC article
Key points per the CNBC article (link)
- Weak demand as coronavirus cases rise is prompting American to cut much of its London service next month.
- Travelers in New York and Chicago can fly nonstop on American’s joint-venture partner British Airways.
- American plans to continue to operate cargo-only flights to London from those airports.
“American Airlines plans to cut much of its service to London next month from major U.S. airports due to weak demand in the pandemic, the carrier said Sunday.
The move comes as coronavirus cases have climbed in both countries and officials instated new restrictions in response to help curb the spread of the virus, driving down demand on what was one of the most profitable and popular international routes pre-pandemic.
The carrier won’t operate flights from Charlotte, New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow next month, a total of 16 weekly flights to London. Customers in Chicago and New York can alternatively book on British Airways, American’s trans-Atlantic partner. American will continue to operate cargo-only flights from Chicago and New York and London, ‘until daily passenger service resumes in January,’ a spokeswoman said in a statement. No other American Airlines December Europe service was cancelled over the weekend.”
Link to CNBC article
AA reduces LHR schedule in December 2020 (no CLT, JFK, ORD - LHR)
Nov 13, 2020, 2:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 223
LHR schedule zeroed out in December?
I'm looking at JFK-LHR flights (AA 106) for next month and seeing inventory zeroed out from Dec 2 through Jan 4th. Does this mean cancellations might be imminent? I can still pull up the seat maps on EF and confirmed on AA.com that no tickets are being sold on this route in December (so it's not just an EF bug I think...)
FWIW, not shocking to me if they do axe these flights given the poor loads. I've flown on AA105/106 around 6 times in the past 2 months and have not seen more than 6 pax in J, 30 pax total.
I think the same is true for MIA-LHR. I see no availability on AA38 beyond Dec 1.
FWIW, not shocking to me if they do axe these flights given the poor loads. I've flown on AA105/106 around 6 times in the past 2 months and have not seen more than 6 pax in J, 30 pax total.
I think the same is true for MIA-LHR. I see no availability on AA38 beyond Dec 1.
Last edited by JDiver; Nov 16, 2020 at 3:51 pm Reason: Restore original post title
Nov 13, 2020, 3:18 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Depending on what the UK does with its lockdown, e.g. allows it to expire or extends it, there may be some movement. But, the outlook is grim for anything other than the most essential travel and that means less demand than there has been to date. The US and UK have also been unable to reach a "bubble" agreement with testing and that only contributes to the problems.
Nov 13, 2020, 3:22 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 223
JFK-LHR has been operating daily for at least the past 3 months or so as AA 105/106. I've been taking it regularly and monitoring loads. Somewhat weird that they chose to continue it through the UK Nov lockdown, but stop right after the lockdown ends... I guess one can make an argument that Dec is more leisure travel heavy, so the limited business demand that has persisted over past few months will vanish.
Nov 13, 2020, 3:41 pm
#5
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,484
Has anyone called, Tweeted, or otherwise contacted someone at AA to see if this is real?
Flukes in the AA schedule seem to happen somewhat regularly, and people take them for that. I wouldn't necessarily assume anything based on a search right now.
Flukes in the AA schedule seem to happen somewhat regularly, and people take them for that. I wouldn't necessarily assume anything based on a search right now.
Nov 13, 2020, 4:09 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 223
At present we don't have the go-ahead to active the sales of seats on these services. Once we do, you'd see the flights fully loaded once not sold out. No glitches online we checked those dates.
Nov 13, 2020, 4:15 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,015
JFK-LHR has been operating daily for at least the past 3 months or so as AA 105/106. I've been taking it regularly and monitoring loads. Somewhat weird that they chose to continue it through the UK Nov lockdown, but stop right after the lockdown ends... I guess one can make an argument that Dec is more leisure travel heavy, so the limited business demand that has persisted over past few months will vanish.
Nov 13, 2020, 5:52 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: MIA, VIE and DPS
Programs: DL Plat 1MM, AA EXP 3MM, SQ Krisflyer Gold, UA Silver, Marriott LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 1,131
The FA on my recent LHR-MIA flight told me that AA is leaving most LHR flights to BA for the next couple of months and that they had been informed of that by management. He said it would likely go all the way to summer - I do see AA 38 (MIA) reappear on EF some time in January at this point.
Nov 13, 2020, 7:03 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,959
In January AA vastly expands its London service by adding 3 flights a week from CLT and daily flights from JFK and ORD. At least they are on the schedule. Probably too early to know for sure whether they will fly.
Nov 13, 2020, 11:09 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,167
AA will need to operate some flights to/from LHR because to be able to retain their slots as part of the waiver they can’t simply drop all flights.
it’s why BA have kept some long haul flights operating from Gatwick to be able to protect all their slots.
it’s why BA have kept some long haul flights operating from Gatwick to be able to protect all their slots.
Nov 14, 2020, 2:26 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,959
Nov 14, 2020, 6:35 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Delaware: PHL,WAS,NYC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum / Hilton Diamond / MGM Gold
Posts: 75
My scheduled flight 11/11 out of EWR to LHR to IST was cancelled. BA supposedly cancelled ALL flights out of there. I was rescheduled to CLT to LHR on AA. Ugh!
My return flight is 11/19 and BA already cancelled ALL flights from IST to LHR. AA rescheduled me on TK to make my connecting flight back to JFK on AA as scheduled.
I actually prefer the business class on TK than on BA so I’m happy about the later change.
My return flight is 11/19 and BA already cancelled ALL flights from IST to LHR. AA rescheduled me on TK to make my connecting flight back to JFK on AA as scheduled.
I actually prefer the business class on TK than on BA so I’m happy about the later change.
Last edited by ranran; Nov 14, 2020 at 11:43 pm
Nov 14, 2020, 8:36 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,947
My scheduled flight 11/11 out of EWR to LHR to IST was cancelled. BA supposedly cancelled ALL flights out of there. I was rescheduled to CLT to LHR on AA. Ugh!
My return flight is 11/19 and BA already cancelled ALL flights from IST to LHR. AA rescheduled me onTA TK to make my connecting flight back to JFK on AA as scheduled.
I actually prefer the business class onTA TK than on BA so I’m happy about the later change.
My return flight is 11/19 and BA already cancelled ALL flights from IST to LHR. AA rescheduled me on
I actually prefer the business class on
Nov 14, 2020, 9:08 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: NYC/LAX/ATL
Programs: JAL Diamond, BAEC Gold, AS 75K, VS Gold, AC 50K, WoH Globalist, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 237
AA probably is modifying the schedule right now. According to EF, JFK MIA CLT ORD all seem to be pulled off the schedule from Dec 2nd/3rd. Only DFW daily are selling tickets as normal.
