American Airlines drops service to 3 cities due to pilot shortage

DALLAS — American Airlines is dropping service to three U.S. airports in another sign of the pilot shortage facing the industry, officials said.

Starting Sept. 7, Fort Worth-based American will no longer fly to Islip N.Y.; Ithaca, N.Y.; and Toledo, Ohio.

Islip is located in Long Island. Ithaca is in western New York. And Toledo is in western Ohio.

American made the decision "in response to the regional pilot shortage affecting the airline industry," the company said in a statement Monday.

"We’re extremely grateful for the care and service our team members provided to our customers in Islip, Ithaca and Toledo, and are working closely with them during this time," American's statement said. "We’ll proactively reach out to customers scheduled to travel after this date to offer alternate arrangements."

The loss of service won't be a major cutback; American flies from Islip and Ithaca to Philadelphia up to twice a day, and from Toledo to Chicago twice a day.

But the dropped routes highlight something American is facing when it comes to regional carriers it operates. The airline said it currently has about 100 aircraft on the ground that it can't fly due to no regional pilots.

"Like many network carriers, we have reduced our regional flying in recent months in response to the regional pilot shortage," American said.

The airline said it anticipates the pilot shortage "could loom for some time." The company recently reached agreements with three of its regional carriers "to ensure we're able to operate a more reliable schedule in the future."

Hundreds of flights have been canceled and thousands more delayed over the last week. Airlines have blamed the travel issues on bad weather, COVID-19 absences and staff shortages.

“They sold tickets to the traveling public in the spring and over the winter for summer vacation, that they can’t live up to," said American Airlines Capt. Dennis Tajer, who's with the Allied Pilots Association. "It’s driving us pilots crazy."

American Airlines has already become one of the least reliable airlines around. At least if you happen to try to fly to/from a city they consider an unimportant market. (as is the case where I am)

I used to fly AA all the time, as my "go to" airline - back in the early 2000s. I flew so often at one point I had over a dozen free round-trip tickets banked through their AAdvantage program. They were well above average back then. Then in the early 2010s they went downhill. In 2017 they cancelled a flight and stranded me for 3 days. I couldn't get a refund and the company I worked for at that time wouldn't eat the cost of the ticket and let me rebook on another airline. I ended up missing an important business event entirely - ultimately cancelling the trip and the company ate the ticket anyway. I swore off AA after that. Since then I have driven to another city 2 hrs away to fly in/out of their airport to avoid AA - more than once.

Well... In early 2022 I had to travel for business on short notice. Nothing available from the local airport on other airlines, nothing available from the airport 2 hrs away that worked either... Ended up having to book on AA in order to meet timelines. I gave them another chance. HA! Once again, they proved why I gave up on them. They couldn't even get me through their hub of DFW on time - either outbound or on the return leg! Two different days almost a week apart. That's because I was flying from an apparently unimportant city to another apparently unimportant city. They have no problem simply cancelling or delaying flights to unimportant cities. They are first up on the chopping block if there is any kind of hiccup in availability of personnel or aircraft.

I get it, from a bean counter perspective it makes perfect sense. Serve the markets (flights) that will generate the most revenue. Used to be they had enough excess capacity on any given day that they could handle the occasional blip in the system. No longer, not for years. They apparently operate so tight on resources that any disturbance in their schedules ripples through the entire enterprise and they have to start shedding flights. I am starting to wonder if that operating on bare bones / ragged edge is company wide - including maintenance and training too.

Since January, I have had to take two additional business trips. (I gave up flying for personal travel years ago, I drive) I used another airline for both trips. No issues whatsoever with either trip - even with some significant weather along the way. They have enough capacity to be flexible and adjust schedules and still get people where they need to go.

I gave up on AA once, then decided to give them a second chance. What's the old saying, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Well, shame on me, I'm done. There won't be another chance for AA. If another business trip comes up and the only available flight is on AA, I'm not going, there are no available flights as far as I'm concerned. I'm senior enough in my new company I can say that and make it stick.

If you're flying to/from cities AA considers important they're probably no better or worse than any other airline. If your trip happens to involve a stop they consider a "minor market" then you're rolling the dice, and the dice are loaded against you.

Sorry about the long rant but no other company in my 50+ years of existence has ever made me so angry, or caused me so much trouble, or cost me (or my company) so much extra $$$. They could literally offer me free flights for life and I'd say fine - only if I can fly on some other airline and you pay for it. Otherwise thanks but no thanks, I value my time. I only fly for business, and that means I need to get there for something. I cannot trust that AA could even get me across the street on schedule. The truism is, you have to allow a day each way for travel. With AA it is demonstrably two days, maybe even three if you want to be sure.

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