American Readjusts International Strategy, Ends LAX International Hub
1 American Airlines announced its revised international plans through Summer 2021, and changes are substantial. The airline will reduce its Summer 2021 international capacity by 25% as compared to 2019, led by the removal of the airline’s Asian hub in Los Angeles. This appears to be a part of the airline’s ground-breaking plan to “stop losing so much money.”
While LAX likely remains a domestic focus for AA, the airline is ending service on five international routes from the airport including Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai in Asia along with Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. The only remaining long-haul flying from Los Angeles will be London, Sydney, Tokyo, and seasonal Auckland service. In all, 19 international routes are being dropped for Summer 2021 from a total of six U.S. gateways as the airline retreats to focus on its primary hubs.
On the bright side, American plans to launch five new international routes in Winter 2021, including three from its new strategic base in Seattle where it is partnering with Alaska to gather connecting passengers. AA plans to launch service from SEA to Bangalore, London, and Shanghai/Pudong.
This will be covered in greater detail Thursday morning on crankyflier.com.
United Adds 25,000 Flights to August Schedule
2 United Airlines announced it will be adding 25,000 flights to its August schedule, tripling its operation from June. The airline will operate approximately 40% of the schedule it operated in August of 2019, including 48% of its domestic schedule from a year ago.
United will be adding 350 daily flights from its U.S. hubs with a doubling of flights from Newark. With Hawai’i lifting its mandatory 14-day quarantine on visitors in August, United will return in greater force to the islands with service to Lihue (LIH) from San Francisco and Hilo (ITO) from Los Angeles. In a bid to return to profitability, United will reinstate the “Halfway to Hawai’i” game but now the winner will have to pay United $300,000.
United will also operate approximately 25% of its international schedule as compared to a year ago. Service for August includes the launch of 5x weekly service between Chicago/O’Hare and Tokyo/Haneda.
European Union Bans Pakistan International Airlines
3 The European Union’s aviation safety agency banned Pakistan International Airlines from operating within the EU for at least six months due to the scandal where it turns out some of the airline’s pilots aren’t actually pilots.
PIA has not been flying to Europe because of the pandemic, but it was hopeful to resume flights to Oslo, Copenhagen, Paris, Barcelona and Milan within the next two months. The airline, however, did not pass the EU’s totally unfair requirement that actual, qualified pilots operate aircraft in EU airspace.
A spokesman for the airline said it “will have a difficult time regaining its reputation.” It’s unclear if said spokesman is aware of what the airline’s reputation was before all of this.
Aviation experts fear the ban by the European Union could also affect PIA flights to the United Kingdom and even Canada, because its aircraft will not be able to fly over Europe forcing longer routes. In the meantime, passengers flying to or from Pakistan are encouraged to fly literally any other airline. Seriously pick one — any one — and enjoy your trip.
Aeromexico Files For Bankruptcy Protection
4 Aeromexico announced today that it has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States to implement a financial restructuring while maintaining service to its customers. Aeromexico expects to use the Chapter 11 process to firm up its financial positions and liquidity — while likely wiping out Delta’s, which owns half the airline — as it looks to survive in a post-Coronavirus world.
The airline will continue to operate its flights throughout Mexico and the world, as it plans to double its number of domestic flights and quadruple its international flights in July compared to June. Aeromexico’s bankruptcy will not impact its Club Premier loyalty program, the airline said. All points, as well as vouchers and other credits, remain valid.
Lastly, the airline is in talks to obtain new, preferential financing, as part of its restructuring.
Qatar Brings 11 Destinations Back Into Service Today
5 On the day the airline has cleverly named “Takeoff Wednesday,” Qatar Airways is bringing 11 destinations back into service from its Doha hub with another seven to be back in the fold by the middle of the month.
Qatar will resume operating today from Doha to:
- Bali (DPS) — daily service
- Beirut (BEY) — daily service
- Belgrade (BEG) — 3x weekly service
- Berlin (TXL) — 3x weekly service
- Boston — 5x weekly service (increases to daily on August 1)
- Edinburgh (EDI) — 3x weekly service
- Larnaca (LCA) — 3x weekly service
- Los Angeles — 3x weekly service (5x weekly beginning July 17 and 6x weekly beginning on August 1)
- Prague — 3x weekly service
- Washington/Dulles — 5x weekly service (increases to daily on August 1)
- Zagreb (ZAG) — 3x weekly service
Qatar has aggressively grown service levels at a time where others have shrunk due to not having any level of fiscal responsibility.
Airline Potpourri
- Delta is reopening seven Sky Clubs it shuttered back in March.
- easyJet is proposing to close three UK bases including two in London.
- El Al has suspended all flights indefinitely. Now, every day will feel like Saturday.
- Gulf Air resumed flights to and from Athens and Cairo from its Bahrain (BAH) hub.
- Hawaiian was granted approval to continue its suspension of service to Pago Pago in American Samoa through July 31.
- Lufthansa Group says that half of its fleet of aircraft are back in the air flying.
- Qantas is bringing back its free inflight wifi on its aircraft today.
Andrew’s Moment of Levity
What is a Canadian ghost’s favorite foot? Boo-tine, of course. Happy Canada Day!