Regardless of the upcoming vacation season, American Airlines has reduced down its December flight schedule due to “low demand” through the coronavirus pandemic.Â
The truth is, the airline can have about 50% fewer flights subsequent month than it had in December 2019, American Airlines spokesperson Nichelle Tait.
“We’re consistently evaluating our community to match provide and demand and have been making common schedule changes since March,” Tait stated in an announcement, “In an effort to match low demand ensuing from coronavirus (COVID-19), we proceed to function a lowered schedule.”
Nonetheless, the airline will barely improve the variety of flights within the final two weeks of December in an effort to capitalize on vacation journey.
“In December, our schedule will probably be roughly 50% smaller than the identical time interval final 12 months, apart from the final two weeks of the month, which will probably be roughly 45% smaller than the identical time interval final 12 months through the vacation peak,” Tait stated.
Based on The Dallas Morning News, American Airlines can have about 105,619 flights scheduled for December, which is about 10,000 extra flights than November. Final 12 months, American had greater than 200,000 flights scheduled for December.
Probably the most vital cuts to American Airlines’ schedule have been in New York, The Dallas Morning Information reported.
American Airlines lowered flights by 86% at each JFK and LaGuardia, leaving the airline to function solely 15 flights a day at JFK and solely 22 flights a day at LaGuardia, based on the newspaper.
The airline additionally reportedly made cuts to its schedules in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and O’Hare in Chicago.
Regardless that it has reduce its flight schedule, American Airlines introduced on Monday that it will be expanding its pre-flight coronavirus testing program.
Beginning on Nov. 16, the airline will provide vacationers to Belize, Grenada, St. Lucia and Hawaii, the choice to get examined for COVID-19 utilizing an at-home well being care take a look at.
Beforehand, the airline supplied the $129 checks solely to vacationers headed to Jamaica and the Bahamas.