American Airlines Long-Haul Network: Sad
Intro
American Airlines happens to have the worst international long-haul route network of the three carriers in the USA. There’s not much else really to say, as this is just a known fact. However, it wasn’t like it used to be. With AA serving some intriguing destinations down in South America and extended service in Asia, they’ve really taken a downfall in their international operations.
Some Of Their Old Routes
American used to primarily focus a lot of their long-haul routes down to South America. Back before the political instability in Venezuela, AA used to serve anywhere from 6-7 daily flights from their hub down to Caracas on 757s. To keep the trend going, the airline also used to serve Montevideo, Belo Horizonte, Salvador de Bahia, Recife, Maracaibo, Brasilia, and, well, the list goes on and on.
What Happened?
Back in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, airlines made rash decisions (rightfully so) as they believed that it would be quite a while before air travel bounced back. American Airlines decided to retire the entirety of their 757, 767, and A330 fleet, believing that the demand wouldn’t be there and that new planes would be coming in frequently.
With the delays on long-haul aircraft ongoing, this has left America in a little bit of a tight spot in terms of their long-haul network. However, it is also deeper than that, as American has come out and said that they want to focus more on domestic traffic in the US compared to international.
My Thoughts
To me this is quite a big letdown, and one of the main reasons I switched my loyalty over to United Airlines. Most of the American Airlines long-haul network is the run-of-the-mill flights to Sydney, London, Sao Paulo, and Tokyo (in general), connecting mostly to Oneworld partners. When you take a look at United Airlines operating to the likes of Ulaanbaatar, Manila, Dubai, etc., it showcases how extensive the UA network is.
The point that really lets me down is how I have a spot for American, and I would love to fly with them. The airline, by far, has the best loyalty program in the US, allowing for some incredible redemption opportunities almost anywhere. The service onboard most of my flights is fantastic, and with the combination of the upcoming flagship business class product, the airline could be competitive. It’s sad to see that AA just doesn’t want to do that…
Final Thoughts
American Airlines long-haul network has severly gone downhill in the past 10-15 years. In the past, we saw the airline flying to a multitude of unique destinations down in South America, more service in Asia, and additional service in Europe. However, due to a shortage of widebodies and a more focused strategy on domestic flights, American Airlines doesn’t prioritize these long-haul routes anymore. It’s a shame since the airline can be so good, from their Flagship Lounges to their onboard product to their Frequent Flyer Program…
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