* American is reducing service on a host of long-haul routes, citing Boeing’s delivery delays.
* Boeing Dreamliners and 737 Max aircraft are arriving late to customers due to supply chain
issues and the plane-maker’s safety crisis.
* Among the changes are reduced international service from New York and Dallas/Forth Worth.
American Airlines announced on Friday that delays in Boeing’s delivery of 787 Dreamliners are compelling it to slash certain international flights in the latter half of the year and extending into early 2025, becoming the latest airline to modify its timetable due to the aircraft manufacturer's production issues.
In a filing on Thursday, American disclosed that it anticipates receiving only three Dreamliners this year, a reduction from the initially planned six. Boeing, earlier this week, stated that shortages of parts would hinder its efforts to increase the production of these wide-body planes.
“We are making these adaptations now to ensure we can adequately assist customers on affected flights,” American stated in a release. “We will proactively reach out to impacted customers to provide alternative travel arrangements. We remain dedicated to our customers and staff, working to minimize the impact of these delays while maintaining a comprehensive global network.”
American will suspend some routes to Europe at the end of the summer. Here’s what’s changing:
* Flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Athens will be suspended on
Sept. 3. The seasonal route was previously scheduled to end Oct. 26.
* Flights from New York to Barcelona will be suspended Sept. 3. The route was previously year-
round, and will resume next year.
* Flights from Dallas/Fort Worth International to Dublin and to Rome, which were both scheduled
as year-round flights, will now be suspended on Oct. 26, and return next year.
* Flights from Chicago O’Hare to Paris will end Sept. 3 and resume next year.
American will also provide just one daily flight between New York and Rome, instead of twice daily, commencing August 5th, and there will be no service between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Kona, Hawaii, during the winter season.
The airline stated that it will maintain 55 long-haul international routes this winter and will introduce daily nonstop service between Philadelphia and Barcelona starting in January, along with seasonal service between Miami and Montevideo, Uruguay. Additionally, it will introduce three daily flights between Miami and Sao Paulo.
American mentioned it is further assessing its schedule due to Boeing’s 737 Max delays.
Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
