Another major United States airline is trimming its summer flight schedule due to the rising cost of jet fuel.
American Airlines said this week that it would temporarily cut six routes in California that were scheduled to operate in late summer.
The schedule adjustment will focus on three airports that American serves in California: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Sacramento International Airport (SMF), and Ontario International Airport (ONT).
The routes are being suspended as airlines across the globe grapple with higher fuel costs amid the ongoing war with Iran. The conflict has pushed international crude oil prices to nearly double, with averages hovering just below $100 a barrel.
LAX will see the bulk of the suspensions, with four routes being temporarily axed that had been planned to operate to the Midwest and East Coast. Those routes are:
- Los Angeles (LAX) – Cleveland (CLE)
- Los Angeles (LAX) – Columbus (CMH)
- Los Angeles (LAX) – Pittsburgh (PIT)
- Los Angeles (LAX) – Washington Dulles (IAD)
Ontario and Sacramento airports will both see one nonstop route to American’s hub at Charlotte Douglass International Airport (CLT) suspended.
All six of the daily nonstop flights will be suspended from August 5 to October 5.
“American has seasonally adjusted service on select routes in August and September as the airline refines its capacity growth for 2026,” the airline said. “American is not suspending any routes indefinitely as part of this adjustment and will continue to proudly offer an industry-leading network with more flights than any other U.S. airline.”
The carrier emphasized that travelers on the impacted routes will be offered alternate flights or a refund. American passengers will still be able to travel between all of the suspended destinations, but they will now need a connecting flight.
Airlines around the world have been under enormous financial strain due to the elevated price of jet fuel, which is consistently ranked as one of the biggest expenses for carriers across the industry.
The financial burden has led many airlines to cut flights, suspend routes, raise airfares, and elevate other fees like those for checking a bag, leading to one of the most expensive summer vacation seasons in years.
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