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American, Delta and United plan to add 15 long-haul international routes in September

Sept. 02, 2020
4 min read
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American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines will resume as many as 15 long-haul international routes in September, even as the return of flights during the coronavirus pandemic slows.

If schedules hold, Accra (ACC), Barcelona (BCN), Buenos Aires (EZE), Lagos (LOS), Mumbai (BOM) and Rome (FCO) are all due to see their first U.S. airline-operated flights since the pandemic began. However, as in months past, the plans remain subject to change until flights are actually in the air.

For example, American and United's flights to Hong Kong remain suspended due to local COVD-19 testing concerns. The Star Alliance carrier has postponed plans to add flights between Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Hong Kong this month after a more than year-long hiatus.

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Hawaiian Airlines' long-haul operation remains grounded until at least the end of September due to its namesake state's mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals. The carrier has warned more than 2,000 staff — about a quarter of its workforce — of possible furloughs due to the continued grounding.

International route resumptions are expected to slow as the U.S. moves into winter. The period is traditionally a time of lower travel demand in many long-haul markets, something that will likely be exacerbated by continuing border restrictions in many countries.

Below are the international long-haul routes planned by U.S. airlines for September as of Sept. 1. Bolded routes are due to be added or resumed in September.

Related: American, Delta and United's international long-haul routes in August

American

  • Chicago O’Hare (ORD) – London Heathrow (LHR)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Amsterdam (AMS), Dublin (DUB), Frankfurt (FRA), London Heathrow, Madrid (MAD), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Seoul Incheon (ICN), Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Tokyo Narita (NRT)
  • New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) – London Heathrow
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo Haneda
  • Miami (MIA) – Buenos Aires, Lima (LIM), London Heathrow, Santiago (SCL), São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU)
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Routes confirmed as of Sept. 1.

Related: American Airlines makes good on threat to ax cities, suspends 15 in ‘first step’

American Airlines long-haul international routes in September 2020. (Image by Cirium)

Delta

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Amsterdam, Dublin, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Munich (MUC), Paris Charles de Gaulle, São Paulo Guarulhos, Seoul Incheon and Tokyo Haneda
  • Boston (BOS) – Amsterdam and London Heathrow
  • Detroit (DTW) – Amsterdam, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Seoul Incheon, Shanghai Pudong (PVG) via Seoul, and Tokyo Haneda
  • New York JFK – Accra, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dakar (DSS), Lagos via Dakar, London Heathrow, Madrid, Milan (MXP), Paris Charles de Gaulle, Rome and Tel Aviv
  • Los Angeles – Sydney (SYD)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Amsterdam, Seoul Incheon, Shanghai Pudong via Seoul, and Tokyo Haneda

Routes confirmed as of Sept. 1.

Related: Delta will block seats into January as it tries to boost traveler confidence

Delta long-haul international routes in September 2020. (Image by Cirium)

Hawaiian

Hawaiian plans to resume service to Japan, South Korea and Tahiti on Sept. 30, as of Aug. 19. However, that date is dependent on when Hawaii eases its quarantine rules that currently extend through Oct. 1.

Related: Hawaii pushes back its reopening date to at least Oct. 1

United

  • Chicago O’Hare – Amsterdam, Brussels (BRU), Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Tel Aviv and Tokyo Haneda
  • Houston Intercontinental (IAH) – Amsterdam, Frankfurt and São Paulo Guarulhos
  • Los Angeles -- Sydney
  • Newark (EWR) – Amsterdam, Brussels, Delhi (DEL), Dublin, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Mumbai, Munich, Paris Charles de Gaulle, São Paulo Guarulhos, Tel Aviv and Tokyo Narita
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Delhi, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Munich, Seoul Incheon, Shanghai Pudong via Seoul, Sydney, Tahiti (PPT), Tel Aviv and Tokyo Narita
  • Washington Dulles (IAD) – Brussels, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Munich and Zurich (ZRH)

Related: United Airlines plans 26 more international routes in September

United long-haul international routes in September 2020. (Image by Cirium)

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.