Emirates to Axe Key Fifth-Freedom Route After 28 Years

The UAE’s flag carrier Emirates has confirmed that it will be cutting a long-served route from Singapore to Melbourne, Australia.

Sam Jakobi

Monday, September 09, 2024 at 11:17 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The UAE’s flag carrier Emirates has confirmed that it will be cutting its route from Singapore to Melbourne.

The news was first given in a statement to The Straits Times, with the airline saying that no exact date for the route’s termination had been decided upon at the moment. However, the airline said that this news would come after it had assessed the impact that the cancellation would have in terms of capacity commitments agreed upon in a partnership with Qantas.

This route is a prime example of a fifth-freedom operation: a flight operated from and to two destinations different from an airline’s home base. This allows for an airline to operate to two destinations in one, and is often used for a route serving lower demand hubs, such as KLM connecting the Dutch capital with Bogota and Cartagena in Colombia.

Currently, six airlines in total operate between the East Asian hub and Australia’s second-largest city. These include Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Jetstar, Scoot, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines.

The route has been served since 1996, using the airline’s fleet of Boeing 777s. Emirates said that it would no longer fly between Singapore and Australia, but would instead keep its codeshare agreement with Qantas.

However, the airline was quick to point out that its nonstop flights to both Singapore and Melbourne from its Dubai hub will still be flying. These routes operate on a four times daily and twice-daily basis respectively.

OAG Aviation data cited by The Straits Times shows that Emirates was set to operate 11% of the seats sold in September.

Sam Jakobi

Sam Jakobi is a young aviation journalist based in London, U.K. A lifelong Airbus fan, he has adored aviation for as long as he can remember. Sam writes articles and conducts interviews with members of the aviation community.

The Rapid Growth of Airline Connections Between Poland and the UAE

In the last few years, the UAE-Poland market has seen significant growth, surpassing the 2019 high water mark by a multiple.

Filip Kopeć

Monday, September 09, 2024 at 10:34 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The government of the United Arab Emirates actively tries to increase inbound tourism in the country. Multiple airlines based in the region are expanding operations by adding new destinations to their respective networks. Poland is one of the markets that will see the presence of all Emirati carriers as soon as 2025.

The Most Recent Entrant

On Friday, the UAE-Poland market got its newest entrant. Etihad Airways has announced two new routes to come in June 2025. Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi will be connected to Chopin Airport in Warsaw and Václav Havel Airport in Prague.

The carrier will serve the routes with its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The aircraft features 262 seats in the economy cabin as well as 28 seats in business class. Passengers will be able to comfortably transfer to a wide network of Etihad’s destinations at the recently opened Zayed International Airport.

Warsaw and Prague flight schedule of Etihad Airways

Both Poland and Czechia are markets Etihad has never served before. The carrier has not only rejuvenated its network after restructuring but is profitable and has started to expand into completely new markets.

Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “We are proud to introduce Warsaw and Prague as our newest destinations, reflecting our commitment to expanding into new and exciting markets. These routes not only enrich our network but also offer a great opportunity to strengthen ties with these countries and attract more visitors to Abu Dhabi. We see this as a key part of our growth strategy, helping to drive tourism and support the UAE’s vision for the future.”

The Rise in Connectivity

Emirates was the first airline operator to enter the UAE-Poland market in 2013. For most of the time before 2020, the carried shared the market only briefly with Flydubai which connected Dubai with a secondary Polish airport in Krakow. The former carrier grew rapidly, launching the Warsaw route in 2021, Poznan in 2023, and expanding the Krakow route up to 21 frequencies in a week in the peak summer season of 2024. Together the sister-carriers based in Dubai will offer up to 44 flights weekly between the UAE and Poland.

Emirates and Flydubai are not all the country has to offer. Air Arabia is also growing substantially and entering new markets. Earlier this year, the carrier launched two routes from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates to Poland: Krakow and Warsaw. Initially, the carrier launched a five-weekly connection to Krakow, which later expanded to up to 12 frequencies in the peak summer season. Soon after that, the Sharjah-based low-cost airline announced the addition of the five times weekly Warsaw connection.

Scheduled connections between Poland and the United Arab Emirates over the years (Photo: Filip Kopec)

Wizz Air, a Hungarian ultra-low-cost carrier, has served multiple different routes between Poland and the United Arab Emirates in the past. The carrier had its moment in two Dubai airports, the Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport. The success that allowed for consistent operations came when it launched an alternating connection from Abu Dhabi to Katowice and Krakow.

Filip Kopeć

A passionate aviation enthusiast that started off his career as an aerospace engineer, but found his true calling on the commercial side of the airline business. Now as a finance guy among avgeeks and an avgeek among finance guys, he has experience working in the Revenue Divisions of three airlines. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, but admittedly sometimes is more about the journey than the destination.

DOT Probe Investigates Four Largest Airline Rewards Programs

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg sent letters to the four largest U.S. airlines ordering them to provide records about their rewards programs.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Friday, September 06, 2024 at 04:08 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Aircraft on the move at New York's LaGuardia Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched a federal inquiry into the four largest U.S. airlines’ rewards programs in an effort to protect customers from potential unfair, deceptive, or anticompetitive practices.

According to a news release posted by DOT on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg sent letters to American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines ordering them to provide records with detailed information about their rewards programs, practices, and policies.

The probe is focused on the ways consumers participating in airline rewards programs are impacted by the alleged devaluation of earned rewards, hidden or dynamic pricing, extra fees, and reduced competition and choice.

“Points systems like frequent flyer miles and credit card rewards have become such a meaningful part of our economy that many Americans view their rewards points balances as part of their savings,” Buttigieg said in the release. “These programs bring real value to consumers, with families often counting on airline rewards to fund a vacation or to pay for a trip to visit loved ones. But unlike a traditional savings account, these rewards are controlled by a company that can unilaterally change their value. Our goal is to ensure consumers are getting the value that was promised to them, which means validating that these programs are transparent and fair.”

Airline loyalty programs are extremely effective marketing tools that drive customer loyalty and incentivize them to stay loyal. Rewards points are typically earned by making purchases with the airline’s co-branded credit card, by flying on the airline or its partners, or by other activities specified by the airline or its credit card partner. These points can then be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other products and services.

The value of rewards is set by the terms and conditions that govern their use. Because many airlines reserve the right to change their terms, the DOT probe argues that the value of the rewards is changed at their discretion.

Buttigieg is specifically requesting information and documents relating to:

Devaluation of earned rewards from airlines increasing the number of points needed for redemption or status upgrades, implementing blackout dates for flight redemptions, limiting who can use the points to travel, and more. As part of DOT’s probe, airlines must describe each change made to their rewards program over the last six years, how it impacted existing points and status, and what options were provided to members to avoid losing any value or benefits they had already earned.
Hidden and dynamic pricing from airlines masking possible disparities between a point’s purchase price and its dollar value. As part of DOT’s inquiry, airlines must provide the average dollar value of one reward point, the value of a point when it is redeemed for various services, and the price to purchase a point directly from the airline. They must also identify practices related to dynamic pricing and the financial impact of those practices on consumers.
Extra fees added by airlines to maintain, redeem or transfer points customers have earned. Airlines must identify and describe to DOT each fee associated with their rewards program that is charged to consumers related to the use or administration of their rewards points, the actual cost to the airline for a consumer to take the action for which they are charged a fee, and the rationale for charging the fee.
Reduction in competition and choice by airlines using rewards programs as a key financial asset in mergers. DOT argues that these mergers can eliminate or reduce competition and choice for rewards consumers. As part of DOT’s inquiry, airlines must describe and provide documents related to their mergers involving rewards programs, the integration process of merging programs, their rewards program partnerships, and how they monitor, analyze, and react to other airlines’ competing rewards programs.

In May, Buttigieg joined the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Rohit Chopra for a public hearing on airline and credit card programs. At the hearing, smaller U.S. airlines touted their rewards programs’ consumer-friendly policies, while expressing some competition concerns as to how rewards programs are leveraged by the largest airlines.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.

United Faces Federal Discrimination Lawsuit

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a federal lawsuit against United, alleging that a supervisor called a Mongolian employee a racial slur.

Brinley Hineman

Friday, September 06, 2024 at 03:45 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

United aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock | Ceri Breeze)

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a federal lawsuit against United Airlines, alleging that a supervisor called a Mongolian employee a racial slur in 2021.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, says that Alsunbayar “Bondok” Davaabat was subjected to a hostile work environment when United’s food and materials senior manager Terry McGurk called him a racial slur. The incident prompted Davaabat to leave the company after United failed to immediately investigate his complaint, the lawsuit says.

“By its failure to take any steps to either investigate Davaabat’s allegations or protect him from further racially hostile harassment, United further contributed to and exacerbated the racially hostile work environment for Davaabat,” the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit alleges that Davaabat, who was born in Mongolia and emigrated to the United States in 1996 before becoming an American citizen in 2009, faced racial harassment soon after joining United in 2019. It also accuses United of not promptly investigating Davaabat’s complaint and even giving a pay raise to McGurk, who was the focus of previous complaints, alleging that he used racial slurs and acted inappropriately toward minority employees.

“United took appropriate remedial action,” a spokesperson said in a statement to AirlineGeeks. “After an extensive investigation, the manager in this case was removed from the workplace and is no longer with United. We offered Mr. Davaabat re-employment in 2021, but he declined.”

Davaabat was hired by United to work as a driver for the airline’s Denver Catering facility near the Denver International Airport. The lawsuit says on Jan. 11, 2021, Davaabat, joined by a colleague, ate in the cafeteria on a meal break, when employees were permitted to remove their face masks. As Davaabat and his coworker threw away their trash way, McGurk told them to pull their masks up.

According to the suit, the two employees said, “Yes, sir,” to which McGurk allegedly replied, “What did you say, [slur]?” The manager then leaned in close to Davaabat’s face and told him he didn’t like his tone and grabbed and twisted the man’s arm to see his badge, the lawsuit alleges.

McGurk reportedly questioned Davaabat about his employment and if he valued his job, in a way that implied he was threatening Davaabat’s job.

“Lucky for you, I’m a good guy,” McGurk told Davaabat, according to the suit.

Multiple colleagues saw the incident, one of whom asked if Davaabat was alright. Davaabat thought McGurk was going to “beat him up” and felt vulnerable to racial violence because of the coronavirus pandemic, the lawsuit says.

Davaabat immediately attempted to file an internal complaint with his supervisor Thomas Ready, who told him to write a statement about the incident. Ready did not reassure Davaabat that his job was safe and that McGurk did not have the authority to fire him.

Ready told Davaabat he could not investigate the incident because McGurk was higher ranking than him, court records say. Instead, Ready instructed Davaabat to provide the written statement to Kevin Creviston. The colleague who had joined Davaabat for lunch and witnessed the alleged altercation also submitted a statement.

When the company did not address Davaabat’s complaint by the end of the workday, he submitted his two-week notice, the lawsuit says. He stated in his notice he was leaving his position due to United’s failure to respond to his report of racial discrimination.

Creviston did not investigate the complaint during Davaabat’s final two weeks with the company, the lawsuit claims, instead telling Davaabat there was nothing he could do because McGurk was higher ranking than him.

The company began investigating Davaabat’s complaint more than a month after the incident, according to the suit. McGurk wasn’t interviewed until March 2021, nearly two months after Davaabat’s complaint.

McGurk was allowed to retire in lieu of termination in July 2021.

“The EEOC is committed to enforcing our nation’s laws preventing race and national origin harassment in the workplace,” Mary Jo O’Neill, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Phoenix District, which includes Colorado, said in a statement. “Employers need to remain vigilant in preventing their own managers from engaging in harassment in the workplace. And employers must act promptly in investigating harassment allegations and must immediately take steps to stop the harassment and take appropriate disciplinary and remedial actions, especially where the harassing incident involves both a racial slur and physical assault.”

Brinley Hineman

Brinley Hineman covers general assignment news. She previously worked for the USA TODAY Network, Newsday and The Messenger. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and is from West Virginia. She lives in Brooklyn with her poodle Franklin.

JetBlue Begins Subsidized Air Service

JetBlue will receive over $10 million a year from the federal government to operate its newest route which launched this week.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, September 06, 2024 at 03:25 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

JetBlue begins service to Presque Isle, Maine. (Photo: Presque Isle International Airport | Facebook page)

JetBlue will receive over $10 million a year from the federal government to operate its newest route. On Thursday, the airline launched a new service between Boston and Presque Isle, Maine.

In June, JetBlue was selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to serve the town of nearly 9,000 residents. The carrier’s proposal was chosen over United, which was the incumbent airline for six years.

United contested the DOT’s selection, calling it “arbitrary and capricious, and not well-reasoned” in a letter to the agency. The crux of the dispute lies in differing service levels.

With its proposal offering 12 weekly round-trip flights between Presque Isle and Newark, United says it more closely adhered to the initial criteria set forth by the DOT. JetBlue, on the other hand, secured a waiver to operate with just one daily flight from its Boston hub.

“We are happy to bring the long-desired Boston flights back to Presque Isle and the surrounding communities,” said Dave Jehn, vice president of network planning and airline partnerships at JetBlue, in a press release. “This new service exemplifies our commitment to providing customers throughout New England with high quality service to the places they most want to go. We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Transportation for selecting JetBlue for this Essential Air Service route.”

For the contract’s first year, the annual subsidy rate will be $10,412,703 with service being offered onboard JetBlue’s 100-seat Embraer E190. Service for the second year will increase to $11,235,581 onboard the 140-seat Airbus A220.

This hefty subsidy makes Presque Isle one of the most expensive EAS contracts in the lower 48 states. Notably, the community is also among the most isolated in the government programs at nearly 160 miles from Bangor, Maine. In addition to being the airline’s first EAS contract, it is currently the only one in JetBlue’s network.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Livery of the Week: New Pacific Airlines

New Pacific Airlines – formerly Northern Pacific Airlines — unveiled the modern livery design for its Boeing 757 fleet in 2022.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, September 06, 2024 at 10:24 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

New Pacific's first Boeing 757-200 at an unveiling event in Southern California (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.

Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.

New Pacific Airlines – formerly Northern Pacific — unveiled the livery design for its Boeing 757 fleet in 2022. The airline’s branding, inspired by the rugged beauty of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean, is prominently featured on the aircraft.

Two completed New Pacific Airlines airplanes at Ontario. (Photo: New Pacific Airways)

The 757s feature a clean and modern design with a predominantly white base color. The rear portion of the aircraft is stylized in a darker hue and the company’s logo sits towards the front.

Edmond Huot designed the livery, which put a modern twist on an older aircraft type.

The airline launched operations in 2023 before later ceasing scheduled services. Since then, New Pacific primarily focuses on charter operations.

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.

Ryan Ewing

Pilot Swap: easyJet, Virgin Atlantic Launch New Exchange Program

Pilots from the European low-cost-carrier will be able to gain experience in the right seat of a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350.

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, September 05, 2024 at 02:26 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An easyJet Airbus A320 aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

easyJet and Virgin Atlantic recently announced a new pilot exchange program that will allow a group of easyJet pilots to gain experience flying long-haul routes.

The program begins in November 2024 and will see 20 easyJet pilots transition from flying Airbus A320s on short-haul routes to co-piloting Virgin Atlantic’s A350 aircraft on long-haul flights. After three years, the pilots will return to their positions at easyJet.

“At easyJet we pride ourselves on the calibre of our pilots, our industry-leading training and commitment to career development and so we are delighted to have partnered with Virgin Atlantic to further enhance the opportunities flying with easyJet can offer,” said Captain Bart Prudon, Director of Flight Operations at easyJet, in a news release. “Operating a different aircraft type is a fantastic experience for any pilot and this partnership will not only offer global long-haul flying with the added security of returning to easyJet to continue a fantastic career flying modern aircraft across Europe, we know that our highly-skilled pilots will add great value to the Virgin Atlantic team.”

According to easyJet, this partnership offers benefits for both airlines. Pilots from the budget airline will gain experience flying larger aircraft on long-haul routes, while Virgin Atlantic will benefit from the expertise of experienced A320-series pilots from across Europe.

easyJet is currently in the midst of a five-year recruitment drive to add 1,000 new pilots to its ranks as part of a program that kicked off in 2022.

Ryan Ewing

Turkish Airlines Flight Hit by Severe Turbulence, Causes Injuries

A Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Taipei encountered severe turbulence, injuring several passengers and crew members.

Tolga Karadeniz

Thursday, September 05, 2024 at 01:38 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Turkish Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

A Turkish Airlines flight en route from Istanbul to Taipei reportedly encountered severe turbulence shortly before landing at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, according to a statement released by the airline’s Press Counselor Yahya Üstün.

Flight TK24, operating from Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport to Taipei, was approximately two hours away from its destination when it encountered a sudden and intense turbulence. The unexpected jolts and drops caused chaos within the aircraft, as passengers and crew members were thrown about their seats.

Several individuals sustained injuries, including four passengers and two cabin crew members. While the extent of the injuries varied, it is believed that most were minor. However, two injured passengers were transported to a hospital at their request following the initial medical assessment on board.

Turkish Airlines Statement

In a statement released by Üstün, the airline confirmed the incident and provided further details. “Our passengers and crew on flight TK24 from Istanbul to Taipei experienced a period of unexpected turbulence. Unfortunately, a small number of passengers and crew members sustained minor injuries. We are relieved that the aircraft landed safely and that medical assistance was provided promptly. We understand that this was a distressing experience for our passengers, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused. The safety and comfort of our passengers is our top priority.”

The carrier expressed its sorrow over the incident and stated that they are closely monitoring the health of the passengers and crew.

In the aftermath of the turbulence, the aircraft safely landed at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, where emergency services were on standby to assist any injured individuals. Passengers who were unable to continue their journey were provided with accommodations and alternative travel arrangements.

Turkish has announced that it is working closely with the relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the turbulence and to ensure the safety of future flights. The airline has also pledged to provide full support to the injured passengers and crew members, including covering medical expenses and offering any necessary assistance.

Tolga Karadeniz

Tolga is a dedicated aviation enthusiast with years of experience in the industry. From an early age, his fascination with aviation went beyond a mere passion for travel, evolving into a deliberate exploration of the complex mechanics and engineering behind aircraft. As a writer, he aims to share insights , providing readers with a view into the complex inner workings of the aviation industry.

EASA Orders ‘Precautionary’ A350 Engine Inspections

The European aviation regulator is planning to issue an order requiring operators to inspect Airbus A350 engines following a recent engine fire incident.

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, September 05, 2024 at 11:27 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Airbus A350-1000 aircraft (Photo: Airbus)

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is planning to issue an order requiring Airbus A350-1000 operators to inspect the aircraft’s engines, according to the AFP and Aviation Week. Coming just days after Cathay Pacific was forced to ground most of its A350 fleet, the regulator said the order was in response to an engine fire incident on Cathay flight 383 earlier this month.

On September 1, the flight from Hong Kong to Zurich — operated by an Airbus A350-1000 — suffered an engine fire on one of its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97s. The jet safely returned to Hong Kong.

Following the incident, Cathay Pacific inspected its fleet of 30 A350-900s and 18 A350-1000s, finding defective fuel hoses on 15 aircraft. The Hong Kong-based airline has been forced to cancel 90 flights so far this week as a result of the engine issues.

“EASA is taking precautionary measures to prevent any further similar occurrence,” EASA said in a statement to the AFP. “We will require a one-time fleet inspection, which may be applicable only to a portion of the A350 fleet.”

European airlines have approximately 155 A350 aircraft currently in service per Cirium Fleet Analyzer data. The emergency airworthiness directive only applies to the larger A350-1000 variant with Trent XWB-97 engines.

Ryan Ewing

American Adds Five Long-Haul Routes

On Thursday, the Fort Worth-based airline announced the new services, which are all slated to begin in the Summer 2025 season.

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, September 05, 2024 at 10:21 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An American Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

American is planning to launch a handful of new long-haul routes next summer. On Thursday, the Fort Worth-based airline announced the new services, which are all slated to begin in the Summer 2025 season.

Beginning in March 2025, American will add new transatlantic routes from its hubs in Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, and Charlotte.

Five New Routes

Starting on March 30, the airline will offer daily service between Chicago O’Hare and Madrid operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. From Charlotte starting on June 5, American is adding daily flights to Athens on a Boeing 777-200.

For the first time since 2019, American will resume service to Edinburgh with daily Boeing 787-8 flights to Philadelphia starting on May 23. On the same day, the airline will also add service between Philadelphia and Milan with a Boeing 787-8.

From Miami, the carrier is planning a new route to Rome starting on July 5. Flights will operate once per day on a Boeing 777-200.

Seasonal Extensions

In addition to the five new routes, American is planning to extend four existing seasonal flights. Its route between Dallas/Fort Worth and Barcelona will begin on March 30 while Miami to Paris will extend into the summer season.

The airline’s flights from Philadelphia to Athens and Naples will now begin on March 30 and May 5 respectively.

“We look forward to providing customers more ways to visit their favorite destinations in Europe next summer,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, in a news release. “Resuming service to Edinburgh and adding new routes to other popular destinations across the continent will offer customers convenient access from American’s industry-leading domestic network to all that Europe has to offer.”

Last month, the carrier confirmed capacity cuts on some of its existing long-haul routes, including from both its Phoenix and Los Angeles hubs to London Heathrow. These service reductions are scheduled to take effect later this year.

Ryan Ewing