American Airlines ends 6 LAX routes as Alaska Airlines partnership expands
American Airlines will end flights between Los Angeles and six cities as it makes broad schedule cuts across its route map amid the stalled recovery in air travel.
The Fort Worth, Texas-based Oneworld alliance carrier is ending flights between Los Angeles (LAX) and Eugene (EUG), Medford (MFR) and Redmond/Bend (RDM) in Oregon; Fresno (FAT) and San Diego (SAN) in California; and Louisville, Kentucky (SDF), according to Cirium schedule data and confirmed by American spokesperson Nichelle Barrett. The route shakeup was first reported by The Cranky Flier.
American and Oneworld flyers still have options between LAX and four of the cities. Alaska Airlines serves Redmond/Bend and will add flights to Eugene, Fresno and Medford this fall. American and Alaska renewed their partnership earlier this year, and the Seattle-based carrier aims to become the alliance's 14th member by the end of the year.
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For American, the route cuts come as it shaves 11% off its planned schedule in August. That follows a warning from management that reductions were coming amid the stalled recovery in air travel. The airline will fly roughly 40% of what it flew in August 2019.
"In the face of uncertain demand, the airline has to evolve," Vasu Raja, chief revenue officer at American, said during a quarterly earnings call on July 23. The airline plans to maintain connectivity over its largest hubs in Charlotte (CLT) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) but will make "a lot of other adjustment" at its other hubs that depend more on nearly non-existent business travelers.
U.S. airlines have seen the return of travelers during the coronavirus pandemic stall. Data from trade group Airlines for America (A4A) shows net booked passengers — new reservations minus cancellations — plateaued down around 80% since the end of June.
Related: American Airlines has flown more than its competitors during the pandemic, and it’s paying off
In addition to American, carriers including Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines and Southwest Airlines are all pruning their planned schedules for August and through the fall.
American is ramping up its partnership with Alaska on the West Coast. The airlines are expanding codeshare flights from Los Angeles and Seattle (SEA), with American due to add new nonstop flights between Seattle and Bangalore, India (BLR), London Heathrow (LHR) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG) in 2021. In addition, Alaska and American flyers receive reciprocal frequent flyer benefits on each airline's flights, and American AAdvantage members can earn elite status credit on Alaska flights.
American is evaluating future codeshare markets with Alaska, said Barrett. This could include flights between LAX and Eugene, Fresno, Medford and Redmond/Bend.
Related: Alaska Airlines invited to be the next Oneworld alliance member
However, American frequent flyers will be able to receive miles and elite credits on all Alaska flights once the latter airline is officially part of Oneworld. That process is due for completion by year-end or, at the latest, the first three months of 2021.
The route changes planned by American at fit with the strategy outlined by Raja and other executives since the pandemic began. While none have spoken specifically to Los Angeles, they have focused on strengthening American's competitive edge by flying more mainline jets on profitable longer-haul routes while dropping less competitive services. This will entail some "slot moves" with American's new partner JetBlue Airways at New York's John F. Kennedy (JFK) and LaGuardia (LGA) airports.
LAX is not slot-constrained as the New York-area airports are. But it does have limited gate space and abundant competition across the U.S.'s five — soon six — largest airlines.
American continues to serve all six cities that it is dropping from Los Angeles via other hubs. It flies to Fresno, Louisville and San Diego from multiple other hubs, and Eugene, Medford and Redmond/Bend from its Phoenix (PHX) hub, Cirium shows.
Related: American Airlines, JetBlue plan ‘slot moves’ at New York JFK and LaGuardia
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- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees