American Airlines cutting international flights by 75per cent amid demand collapse
15 March, 2020
Delta Air Lines plans to cut back more flights following the USA expanded travel restrictions to Britain and Ireland, it said, and Southwest Airlines was moving toward its first flight cuts as the spreading coronavirus saps demand.
American Airlines Inc said Saturday it plans to cut 75per cent of its international flights through May 6 and ground almost all its widebody fleet, as airlines respond to the global collapse in travel demand because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The dramatic announcement by the most significant U.S. airline came hours after the White House said the United States would widen new travel restrictions on Europeans to add travelers in britain and Ireland, starting Monday night.
The Trump administration also signaled Saturday it wanted Congress to quickly back financial support for troubled U.S. airlines.
American's sweeping cuts include suspending practically all long-haul international flights to Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand and SOUTH USA.
It'll still operate two flights a day to London and just three flights to Asia per week - to Tokyo. It will continue short-haul international flying.
American confirmed it really is parking nearly all widebody aircraft and anticipates its domestic capacity will be reduced by 20per cent in April and 30per cent in May versus the same period in 2019.
United Airlines Co said late Saturday it could begin cutting flights to the uk, Southwest Airlines moved toward flight cuts and Delta Airlines Inc plans to begin cutting flights to the uk.
Southwest, mostly of the U.S. airlines still flying a full schedule, said it was "seriously considering" cutting flights.
While airlines scrambled to stem losses and protect jobs, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the federal government would "immediately" begin working with Congress to support the airline and cruise industries, both hard hit by the spiraling crisis.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said restrictions on the UK and Ireland will start Monday at nighttime, barring most non-U.S. citizens from entering america who've been in those countries in the last 14 days.
They don't bar flights to and from america, and Americans and everlasting residents can still travel.
United said it could suspend flights to London from Houston and Denver starting Monday. United said it expects to fly three daily flights to London and one daily flight to Dublin through the finish of April.
United said it could provide a credit for the worthiness of the ticket for just about any customer whose international travel is disrupted by more than six hours as a result of schedule changes resulting from government restrictions. Customers who usually do not use the credit for 12 months will receive a refund.
Washington first imposed restrictions on China and expanded them this week to continental Europe, prompting U.S. airlines to cut numerous flights and scramble to shore up capital.
Among cost-cutting measures, U.S. airlines are providing employees voluntary unpaid leaves of absence to complement staffing with flights.
The outbreak came as Delta and its own pilots' union were in contract negotiations, and the sides reached an agreement on coronavirus-related sick leave and managing overstaffing for April with partially paid schedules. United and Southwest could reach handles their pilots soon, sources said.
On Friday, Delta said it could cut capacity 40per cent in the next few months, the major reduction in its history. It'll eliminate almost all flights to continental Europe for 30 days and can park up to 300 aircraft.
United also announced cuts to European service this week. On Friday, major U.S. airlines confirmed that they had experienced talks with the White House and Congress about financial assistance.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Friday called on the government to "turn next to a package to assist impacted employers... No business is going bankrupt because of a non permanent loss in revenue therefore of the coronavirus."
Airlines are reeling from a plunge in bookings and traffic, as the fast-spreading pandemic prompts travel restrictions and event cancellations all over the world.
U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak said on Saturday it had been scaling back services because of reduced demand. The other day the business said bookings had plunged 50per cent because the coronavirus outbreak.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
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