Summer is right around the corner, and American Airlines announced its plan to prepare for the summer travel traffic by restoring more flights. In response to increasing demand for air travel, the Dallas/Ft. Worth-based carrier is planning to fly more than 55 percent of the domestic capacity in July 2020, compared to the same time period last year. Vasu Raja, American’s Senior Vice President of Network Strategy, is eager to look for effective opportunities to better serve the passengers whenever they believe it is safe and comfortable for them to travel.
“We’re seeing a slow but steady rise in domestic demand. After a careful review of data, we’ve built a July schedule to match,” Raja said. “Our July schedule includes the smallest year-over-year capacity reduction since March. We’ll continue to look for prudent opportunities to restore service so our customers can travel whenever and wherever they are ready.”
The airline observed a dramatic increase in demand last month. During the last week of May, American carried a daily average of 110,000 passengers daily, compared to just about 32,000 passengers daily in April. In addition, the average load factor has been gradually increasing from 15 percent in April to 41 percent in the first half of May, and then ultimately, it reached 55 percent at the end of May.
As a result, the carrier will increase frequency from its hubs including Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport. In addition to the increase in the average passenger load factor, more of those passengers are returning to tourist destinations such as major cities in Florida as the nation’s favorite theme parks begin to reopen.
American will also increase the frequency of flying to Asheville, N.C., Savannah, and Charleston, S.C. to accommodate business and leisure travelers. Meanwhile, as national parks and outdoor recreational facilities reopen, the airline will add more flights to mountain destinations such as Montana, Colorado and Utah as the customer demand gradually recovers with more passengers eager to travel and visit.
Summer vacation is a crucial part of June, July and August for students who are on break from school and families who are eager to explore and travel to different and unique destinations. American, along with other major U.S. carriers, ultimately want to rebound from the effects of the global pandemic during the usually popular and fundamental time of the year for air travel.
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