American Airlines announces major flight suspensions to Europe, South America
American Airlines announced major cuts on March 12 to its European and South American schedules, a move that comes amid slumping demand and new travel restrictions aimed at the coronavirus outbreak.
American said it would slash summer capacity on international routes by 34% as compared to what it had originally expected to sell during the summer season.
Transatlantic flying will take a particularly big hit, with a 50% flight reduction in April. The cuts – including a number of route suspensions – were announced a day after President Trump announced restrictions on foreign travelers heading to the United States from Europe. U.S. citizens can return, but their return travel must be to a CDC-approved airport where health officials can screen incoming travelers.
American said it would continue to operate at least some routes to Europe for up to seven days "to ensure customers and employees can return home" in the wake of the new U.S. restrictions.
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In total, American will suspend service or delay the start of seasonal flights on nearly two dozen routes between the U.S. and Europe. The airline also will reduce capacity on a handful of others, mostly to and from London Heathrow (LHR). Most of the cuts begin within the next week and will last into May or June, depending on the route.
To South America, American will suspend all of its service to Argentina beginning next week. Service to Buenos Aires is expected to resume May 7. American's nonstop service between Miami and Cordoba was already set to be discontinued in May, but will now end in March – earlier than expected.
Elsewhere in South America, American will pare back service to Chile and Brazil. The carrier is suspend its Dallas/Fort Worth-Santiago route from March 19 through June 3, though American will continue to serve the city from Miami.
The suspension of Argentina flights comes after that nation announced it would stop issuing visas for travelers from countries hit hard by the coronavirus, including those from the U.S.. U.K. and Europe's Schengen Area.
More: Everything you need to know about the U.S. European travel ban
Similarly, American will suspend flights to São Paulo from its hubs at Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Angeles starting March 19. American expects DFW flights to resume in June, though the Los Angeles flights will be suspended through late October. The airline will still fly to the Brazilian metropolis from Miami and New York.
The cuts announced March 12 came after other coronavirus-related flight reductions already made by American, particularly to places like China, South Korea and Italy. The newest update adds a substantial number of cuts to American's international schedule.
A full list of American's newly announced flight suspensions is below.
EUROPE
Charlotte (CLT)
Frankfurt (FRA): Suspended March 13 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
Munich (MUC): Suspended March 13 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
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Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
Rome (FCO): Seasonal start delayed; flights expected to begin June 4
London Heathrow (LHR): Reduced from four daily flights to three; regular schedule expected to resume May 7
Dallas/Fort Worth
Rome (FCO): Seasonal start delayed; flights expected to begin May 7
Frankfurt (FRA): Suspended March 19 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
London Heathrow (LHR): Reduced from four daily flights to three; regular schedule expected to resume May 7
Madrid (MAD): Suspended March 19 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
Paris (CDG): Suspended March 19 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
More: Tips for booking flights home from Europe now, airlines introducing fare caps
Miami (MIA)
Barcelona (BCN): Suspended March 19 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
Paris (CDG): Suspended March 19 through June 3; flights expected to resume June 4
Madrid (MAD): Suspended March 19 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
Milan (MXP): Suspended through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
New York JFK
Barcelona (BCN): Suspended March 19 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
Rome (FCO): Seasonal start delayed; flights expected to begin May 7
London (LHR): Reduced from four daily flights to three; regular schedule expected to resume May 7
Madrid (MAD): Suspended March 19 through June 3; flights expected to begin June 4
Milan (MXP): Suspended through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
Paris (CDG): Suspended March 19 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
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Philadelphia (PHL)
Amsterdam (AMS): Suspended March 13 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
Paris (CDG): Suspended March 13 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
Rome (FCO): Suspended through May 6; ; flights expected to resume May 7
Madrid (MAD): Suspended March 13 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
Zurich (ZRH): Suspended March 13 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
Raleigh/Durham (RDU)
London Heathrow (LHR): Suspended March 19 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
SOUTH AMERICA
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
Buenos Aires (EZE): Suspended March 16 through June 3; flights expected to resume June 4
São Paulo (GRU): Suspended March 19 through June 3; flights expected to resume June 4
Santiago (SCL): Suspended March 19 through June 3; flights expected to resume June 4
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Los Angeles (LAX)
Buenos Aires (EZE): Suspended March 16 through Oct. 24; flights expected to resume Oct. 25
São Paulo (GRU): Suspended March 19 through October 24; flights expected to resume Oct. 25
Miami (MIA)
Buenos Aires (EZE): Suspended March 16 through May 6; flights expected to resume May 7
Cordoba, Argentina (COR): Service will end permanently in March, earlier than the previously expected May 6 end-of-service date
Buenos Aires (EZE): Suspended March 16 through June 3; flights expected to resume May 7
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