Hotmail
American Airlines reduces flights to Mexico
Carrier joins most U.S. competitors after cutting about one-fourth of routes
DALLAS - American Airlines said Tuesday it will reduce the number of flights to Mexico by about one-fourth, joining most other major U.S. carriers in reacting to falling demand amid public worry over the swine flu.
American and its regional affiliate, American Eagle, will cut daily round trips from the U.S. to 31 from 42 currently because of weaker demand for travel to Mexico. The cutbacks will start Friday and run through June 10.
Tim Smith, a spokesman for parent AMR Corp., said American would evaluate demand and its summer schedule to Mexico beyond June 10.
Smith said the company will continue to fly to all 14 Mexican destinations served by American and Eagle but less frequently.
Continental Airlines Inc. was the first major U.S. carrier to announce reductions in service to Mexico, as it said Friday it would cut capacity on those routes in half by offering fewer flights and using smaller jets.
US Airways Group Inc. said Friday it would reduce May and June departures to Mexico by 38 percent starting next weekend. UAL Corp.'s United Airlines said it would cut weekly flights to Mexico to 24 from 61 beginning Tuesday.
Delta Air Lines Inc., which also operates Northwest Airlines, said it will cut capacity but didn't offer a figure.
Information on U.S. carriers' Web sites showed some were flying mostly empty planes south to Mexico while many flights to the U.S. were nearly full.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM NEWS |
 News Section Front |
| Add News headlines to your news reader: |
Resource guide