AMERICAN Airlines has addressed the rumors the carrier would be canceling hundreds of flights next month.
Reports swirled online that the provider would be trimming its flights schedule, impacting passengers during the summer season.
American Airlines has addressed claims hundreds of flights are being axed this month[/caption]
Local media reported that American Airlines bosses had cut the number of weekly flights out of Chicago’s O-Hare airport, per Cleveland.com.
Weekly flights from Chicago to Dallas’ Fort-Worth airport would be cut from 98 to 85, according to the reports.
Flights linking Chicago to airports such as El Paso, New York’s LaGuardia, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh were reportedly being reduced.
Six weekly flights between Chicago and LaGuardia have reportedly been cut.
But, American Airlines has debunked the rumors flights are suddenly being axed.
“American has not made any recent adjustments to its flight schedules for August,” a spokesperson told The Street.
“We are proud to offer up to 6,700 daily flights, more than any other airline, to help connect travelers to their next vacation before the summer season starts to wind down.”
But, American Airlines bosses had warned about a dip in domestic travel.
“Domestic leisure travel really fell off considerably as we went into the February time frame,” Robert Isom, the carrier’s CEO, told CNBC.
A decline in domestic travel coincided with fears of a recession following uncertainty regarding Donald Trump’s tariff agenda.
Bob Jordan, the CEO of Southwest, also echoed Isom’s analysis.
“That is a very rapid fall-off,” he told CNBC.
“It’s probably the most that I have seen absent Covid.”
He speculated that the tariff news was a large factor in what drove the downturn in traffic.
“It could snap back,” he suggested.
The U.S. Sun reported how Southwest chiefs have made changes to the carrier’s services.
The brand’s open seating policy is being phased out gradually – a move which has sparked fury among some travelers.
POLICY CHANGES
The policy will formally end in early 2026, but news the brand is axing the measure has already sparked anger.
Potential customers have warned Southwest bosses the brand could be on a slippery slope.
“Assigned seating coming to Southwest Air means I’ll never fly Southwest again.”
Travelers pointed out how the policy was something that set the brand apart from its competitors.
In May, it was reported Southwest would start charging for checked baggage.
Most customers now have to pay $35 for their first bag and $45 for their second.
But passengers who are subscribed into the brand’s Rapid Rewards program get two checked bags free of charge.
Jordan told The New York Times change can be hard.
But, he claimed employees were excited about the new policy changes.
Jordan revealed customers want to have choice.
“The customer’s needs and wants are just different,” he said.
“If you don’t follow your customers, you look up one day and your products just aren’t attractive any longer.
“The move to bag fees is really about choice.”
American Airlines execs previously spoke how they had seen a downturn in domestic traffic earlier this year (stock)[/caption]
Robert Isom, the carrier’s CEO, warned how recession fears was linked to a downturn in traffic[/caption]
Southwest Airlines is making changes regarding its baggage and seating policies[/caption]
