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American Airlines hit the pause button when launching new long-haul international routes in 2020, but the airline is forecasting better 2021 with new routes connecting new destinations. Here are the five new routes the airline is currently planning to launch this year.
6. Seattle to London-Heathrow
American Airlines will fly a Boeing 777-200ER from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to London Heathrow (LHR). Currently scheduled to start from the end of March, the airline will increase the aworldwide schedule between the two cities, as British Airways operates up to two daily flights between Seattle and London.
The route is expected to run smoothly, given that American partner Alaska Airlines has a massive hub outside of Seattle for connections. And British Airways has another major hub at Heathrow. This will give the airline a decent chance to fill their plane.
What makes this route more interesting is that it will be very competitive. With American and British Airways on one end, partners Delta and Virgin Atlantic compete against each other on the other end. Delta and Virgin will operate up to two daily non-stop flights on the route. Delta has a hub in Seattle and Virgin Atlantic has one at Heathrow.
Both partnerships could prove to be successful on this path. However, this does not necessarily mean that both companies “win”. If, due to competition, the two partnerships sell seats below cost and accumulate losses or make a marginal profit, then it’s a losing situation – even if the planes go out full.
5. Dallas to Tel Aviv
American Airlines arrives in Israel. As the only one of the three major US airlines not to fly to Israel, the carrier is betting on the strength of its Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) hub to launch flights to Ben Gurion Airport ( TLV) from Tel Aviv.
From the end of October, the airline will use a Boeing 787-9 for long-haul flights. This itinerary will explore whether there is enough room for the three U.S. airlines to fly to Israel, especially given how El Al appears to be returning. United Airlines recently expanded to Israel.
4. Dallas to Auckland
If there is one thing to know about American Airlines, it is important to know that the airline’s largest and most successful hubs are Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). With a massive connection hub, almost all US roads outside the airport should perform relatively well.
To test this theory, American is adding Boeing 787-9 flights to Auckland Airport (AKL) from November. This daily seasonal service will test several different things. First, it will show how successful the American hub in the middle of the continent can be. The airline previously used Los Angeles as a departure point for its flights to Australia and New Zealand. Second, it would also show how far the US partnership with Qantas can go.
If American can maintain more of its own flights between the United States and Australia or New Zealand, as well as Qantas’ long-haul operations from Australia to points across the United States, then both airlines are really in good shape for the future as they would show strength for non-stop travel to New Zealand, and further transform Qantas and US flights to and from Australia more focused on connections and attracting more people to secondary destinations in Australia.
3. Seattle to Shanghai
This route from SEA to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) will be one to watch. American plans to launch this flight from March 27 using a Boeing 777-200ER, the same type of aircraft serving London.
China has always been a difficult market for American Airlines. Previously, it did not have a mainland Chinese partner, so connections were not possible for the airline. Now, if he has China Southern, this partnership is not perfect. China Southern’s strength comes from Guangzhou, where the Americans don’t fly. It has a large but ultimately limited presence outside of Shanghai, compared to much larger eastern China.
American is moving its west coast service from Shanghai to Seattle from Los Angeles. The airline cannot operate both services, as there are restrictions on the number of air services between the two countries.
The strength of this new service will be a true testament to the strength of the partnership between American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. If the Seattle to Shanghai flight works, it shows that American Airlines can truly call Seattle a “hub.” If that doesn’t work, it represents the continued struggle of U.S. airlines to get to China without a strong partnership.
2. Los Angeles to Christchurch
Starting in November, American Airlines will fly a Boeing 787-8 three times a week between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Christchurch Airport (CHC). This route will have to be watched.
American Airlines never really knew what to do with Los Angeles. Just steps away is its hub at Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), where the carrier has a significant operating presence. LAX is rife with competition, and while it has a decent number of connections, the airport is nowhere near the size of the airline’s hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, or Miami.
LAX has always been a major trans-Pacific hub for American Airlines. But, AA also tried many other routes outside the airport. American has ended its LAX service in Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, São Paulo and Beijing.
This, in essence, leaves American’s long-haul operations out of Los Angeles focused on operations to its partner hubs from the city. This includes flights to London-Heathrow, Sydney and Tokyo-Haneda.
This service from Christchurch will be one to watch and, like the DFW-AKL service, will indicate the strength of American Airlines in Australia and New Zealand.
1. Seattle to Bangalore
Taking the cake as one of a US carrier’s most anticipated 2021 routes, it will be America’s riskiest new route.
When the carrier announced the flights, it would have a monopoly on non-stop routes between the United States and the growing technology hub in India. Now, American will have to deal with United’s nonstop operations from San Francisco to Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, meaning the American must rely more on originating and destination nonstop traffic from Seattle and the Alaska hub to fill its plane.
Previously, Americans were not very successful in flying to India for several reasons. Now that they have a more efficient aircraft operating the route, the airline has a little more room to operate that route, but it will still be a risky business.
Which of these six routes do you expect most from American Airlines? Let us know in the comments!
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