American Airlines filed schedule updates this weekend. The Dallas/Fort Worth-based airline has reduced departures by around 19.1% and seats by around 17.5% as it brings its May schedule more in line with the overall demand environment. Alongside this, American will be making some changes to its long-haul international plans.

American Airlines brings down May

In schedules loaded on Cirium, American Airlines has pulled down its schedule in May 2022. However, it will still fly a 10% larger schedule in May 2022 compared to May 2021 while also improving sequentially from its flight offerings in April. Notably, American plans to offer over 5,500 peak daily departures throughout the month.

There are some notable route reductions:

  • Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to London (LHR) reduces to three daily flights (formerly four daily)
  • Dallas (DFW) to Kahului (OGG) reduces to daily service (formerly twice-daily)
  • Dallas (DFW) to Santiago (SCL) is suspended from May 5th through June 3rd
  • Dallas (DFW) to Tel Aviv (TLV) is now delayed to June 4th
  • Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) is suspended in May
  • Raleigh (RDU) to London (LHR) resumption delayed to June 3rd

American Airlines will also keep Managua (MGA) suspended through May.

Some of these cuts are not surprising. With Qantas set to bring the Airbus A380 back in service between Los Angeles and Sydney and the travel restrictions looser for Australian citizens over Americans, Qantas is in a stronger position to do well on this route. Previously, Brian Znotins, American's Vice President of Network & Schedule Planning, told Simple Flying that DFW-TLV is something the airline still wants to fly, but it needs a longer booking season to take advantage of demand from the North Texas religious population that the flight is geared towards. Plus, with service from Miami and New York, these customers can easily be accommodated for now.

American Airlines Boeing 777-223(ER) N790AN (1)
American has three domestic US routes classed as long-haul. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

For those who have been impacted due to these changes, expect the airline to reach out with alternate travel arrangements. However, customers are entitled to seek a full refund as the changes fall under American's standard schedule change policy.

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Some positive additions

American Airlines will be making some positive international improvements. Miami (MIA) to Buenos Aires (EZE) will increase to two daily flights. Miami will also see boosts to other routes. Guayaquil (GYE) increases to three daily flights. Houston (IAH) grows to six daily flights, Liberia (LIR) increases to three daily flights, and more.

Other notable changes include Mexico flights from DFW. This includes upgauing flights to Morelia (MLM) in Mexico to mainline aircraft. Guanajuato (BJX) gets a third daily flight, while Cancun (CUN) will see a daily Boeing 777-200ER operation.

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Airline partnerships have become key in the evolution of FFPs. Photo: Getty Images

New York (JFK) will also see increases, such as two more daily flights to Miami and boosts in some regional service. This includes added flights to Norfolk (ORF), Cleveland (CLE), Pittsburgh (PIT), Raleigh (RDU), Richmond (RIC), and Baltimore (BWI). These will mainly be on regional jets.

American brings May in line with other months

According to data from Cirium, American will fly, overall, more seats in May than it did in April, February, or March, even after the latest cuts. However, it will not be as stark a step-up as it previously was.

This may beg the question of why American put such a large schedule out for sale. American puts its schedules out 331 days in advance. So, the airline puts out its schedule and then monitors bookings and what demand or restrictions will look like. However, it then adjusts flights closer in, largely depending on demand, crew limitations, aircraft needs, and other factors.

American is still looking ahead to a strong summer, though some more adjustments are still likely through the summer and the rest of the year.