Published on Thursday, July 2, 2020

American Airlines drops long haul destinations

American Airlines is suspending or cutting dozens of international flights as it warned of big job cuts on the horizon.

The airline will cut 25% of long haul capacity for 2021.

It suspended 16 international routes until winter 2020 and scrapped some routes indefinitely including Dallas Fort Worth to Munich.

American will also end five routes from Los Angeles to Asia and South America, which is says are underperforming.

European destinations American is exiting include Budapest, Hungary, Dubrovnik and Krakow, Poland.

"COVID-19 has forced us to reevaluate our network. American will have a significantly smaller international network in the year ahead, but we are using this opportunity to hit reset and create a network using the strength of our strategic hubs," said Vasu Raja, American Airlines' chief revenue officer.

Additionally, Dallas Fort Worth will be positioned as its main transpacific hub and Miami will continue to be the gateway to South America.

Philadelphia will be American's primary hub for service to Europe, but is cutting the new Philly to Casablanca route.

American told flight attendants it has up to 8,000 more staff than it needs and will offer more voluntary separation and unpaid leave options.

In a memo, Jill Surdek, American's senior vice president of flight service said less international flights and fewer crew bases are 'part of our new reality.'