https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/american-airlines-temporarily-suspends-some-of-22291234.php
[snip]
In a statement, American said it had adjusted service for “select routes” in August and September — and that impacted travelers would be offered alternative arrangements or refunds. The Texas-based airline cited elevated fuel costs, and maintained that these changes were in line with wider industry trends.
From the CBS link in the above link....
:American is not suspending any routes indefinitely as part of this adjustment," the spokesperson said in a statement. The affected routes being temporarily cut are:
Los Angeles to Cleveland
Los Angeles to Columbus
Los Angeles to Pittsburgh
Los Angeles to Washington Dulles
Charlotte to Ontario
Charlotte to Sacramento
I have the impression that currently some airlines use the fuel prices
as explanations instead of true reasons such as competition or low
load factors.
I suspect that the fuel prices are being used as a smoke screen for a lot of reworking of the airline service and schedules. Of course, not in this case and not involving American. There is a fair chance that some good will come out of all of this. Good for the airlines I mean.
I also think they might rethink some international routes as well.
Last month I flew United from BCN to SFO (seasonal non stop) and I think 70%+ of the seats in Economy or Premium Plus where I was, were empty. People had the full row at their disposal and everybody was lying down across seats. It might have been that that seasonal flight had just started in early May, but due to high prices and uncertainty many people are postponing long distance international vacations, and that is true for Europeans too, who are facing skyrocketing prices, especially at the pump (almost $10/gallon for gasoline in Portugal and in Italy).
