Posted on 03/15/2020 4:18:24 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO - American Airlines Inc said Saturday it plans to cut 75% of its international flights through May 6 and ground nearly all its widebody fleet, as airlines respond to the global collapse in travel demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The dramatic announcement by the largest U.S. airline came hours after the White House said the United States would widen new travel restrictions on Europeans to include travelers in the United Kingdom and Ireland, starting Monday night.
The Trump administration also signaled Saturday it wanted Congress to quickly back financial support for troubled U.S. airlines.
American’s sweeping cuts include suspending nearly all long-haul international flights to Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand and South America.
It will still operate two flights a day to London and just three flights to Asia per week — to Tokyo. It will continue short-haul international flying.
American confirmed it is parking nearly all widebody aircraft and anticipates its domestic capacity will be reduced by 20% in April and 30% in May versus the same period in 2019.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
We are in the UK visiting family. The trip was planned months ago. We looked at leaving early but there were no seats available until 2 days before the planned return date.
At least we have a place to stay our flight is cancelled.
A lot.
unemployment insurance helps, especially if you are staying home not going out to movies or to eat.
Six hour waits at customs- good luck!
Sadly true
No wonder people are avoiding flights. Has anybody noticed that the air that comes out of the little vents often smells like bad breath? That’s because it’s just recirculated air without the introduction of fresh air! The pilots get the fresh air.
May 6th. At best that implies a one month shut down on travel with a slow pickup in travel over the next two weeks. Following the Chinese timeline I would suggest maybe more like a two month shutdown. Will wait for the next announcement in a few weeks extending the May 6th date.
“American Airlines cutting international flights by 75% amid demand collapse”
“The Trump administration also signaled Saturday it wanted Congress to quickly back financial support for troubled U.S. airlines.”
The shutdown of international aviation was predicted here for weeks, so it should not come as a surprise. Additionally, the bailout was also predicted, due to the importance of aviation. Basically a repeat of 9/11.
But also keep in mind that the recovery, will be much, much, slower as the (well-justified) fear of being caught in a hot spot for Coronavirus is something new.
Note also that cruise ships will be left on their own to ‘sink’ - no goodies for them (or at least I hope that’s the case). If they want bailouts, they can go to their flag countries and beg.
“No wonder people are avoiding flights. Has anybody noticed that the air that comes out of the little vents often smells like bad breath? That’s because it’s just recirculated air without the introduction of fresh air! The pilots get the fresh air.”
This will need to be a FEDERAL REGULATION (hopefully worldwide), to put an end to cabin air recirculation. Even if the airlines say they’re not running their recirculation fans, or if the airlines claim they’re filtering their recirculation air, there’s no way for passengers to know if either is actually true on a given flight...hence the need for a mandate.
By the way, from one chart that I’ve seen, the added fuel cost of NOT recirculating cabin air - about 1% in fuel or about $1.00 per $500 flight (0.2%, as fuel is only 20% of the cost of a flight)
Whether or not this means airfares in the long run will get cheaper, or will get more costly is yet to be seen.
You’d think air fares could get cheaper when the airlines are again competing for customers, but meanwhile their debt load will be piling up. They finance nearly all their planes instead of spending cash to buy them outright and will likely borrow now to make their debt payments while they wait out the crisis. When the crisis is over they’ll need to to something to help them start paying down their debt. By the time the flu crisis is ending the oil price will likely be heading back up, and with it the price of jet fuel. Airlines will need MORE revenue than they did a couple months ago, to start paying down their debt load and for rising costs.
I am scheduled to fly to Hungary on Monday 23 March on British Airways.
Once there, I can isolate nicely and snuggle with my fiancee.
“No wonder people are avoiding flights. Has anybody noticed that the air that comes out of the little vents often smells like bad breath? That’s because it’s just recirculated air without the introduction of fresh air! The pilots get the fresh air.”
TOTALLY WRONG! You are getting the same “bleed air” from the compressor section of the turbines. However some of this is recirculated cabin air, about 50%. You and the pilot are breathing the same air. It is still an easy place to catch an illness.
Follow link below to read about cabin air.
Yes, my son likely is going to be caught up.
50% recirculated air and I am totally wrong?
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