american airlines

Tag Archives for american airlines.

American Airlines Bringing Back Sandwiches To Domestic First Class

by Gary Leff

Jul 25 2020

With the global pandemic, airlines have looked to cut costs wherever they can, while saying the changes are driven by safety concerns.

Just last weekend I reported that American Airlines, which started giving out fruit and cheese plates in domestic first class on flights over 900 miles, eliminated meals on the longest domestic flights of more than 2200 miles (such as Miami- Seattle) and similar-length international flights. They’ve already done an about face on this plan.

Continue Reading »

American Airlines Tells Flight Attendants Their Jobs Will Be Miserable If They Stay

by Gary Leff

Jul 25 2020

Consumer demand for travel isn’t going to equal what it was before the Covid pandemic for awhile, so airlines will offer fewer flights and won’t need as many employees. In general airlines have to keep employees based on seniority, but were prefer more junior employees who are paid less. So they’re offering senior employees buy outs to voluntarily separate from their company.

With only 401 American Airlines flight attendants taking these ‘early outs’ so far, they’re trying to convince cabin crew that their work will be harder and less pleasant in the future.

Continue Reading »

13 Quick, Lesser-Noticed Things Revealed On Today’s American Airlines Earnings Call

by Gary Leff

Jul 23 2020

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker opened the call by thanking “the entire America West Airlines team.” Oops. The airline is often criticized for being America West operating under the American Airlines brand, and that doesn’t help. Parker took over America West days before 9/11, got a government bailout, went on to acquire US Airways and then merge it into the larger American with legacy US Airways executives at the helm.

Following that miscue, which he later said CIO Maya Leibman pointed out to him, he offered that “Black Lives Matter” before getting into quarter’s results and the airline’s plans for dealing with and emerging from the pandemic. 13 things – aside from the actual financial results – stood out to me that help to understand where the airline is going.

Continue Reading »

American Airlines Expanded Early, But At The Last Minute Is Scaling Back August Flights

by Gary Leff

Jul 22 2020

American Airlines has been one of the most aggressive in restoring its schedule. As Senior Vice President Vasu Raja has explained, with the federal government picking up payroll costs through September, at $35 oil their break-even load factor is 25%. So they added a bunch of flights to the schedule, restoring 55% of 2019’s capacity.

A month and a half ago I said to expect that travel wouldn’t rebound as quickly as some expected. Even at low break-even levels American is finding they need to scale back their flying again.

Continue Reading »

How Close Did American Airlines CEO Come To Losing His Job Last Year?

by Gary Leff

parker talking to somebody
Jul 20 2020

Before the pandemic American Airlines underperformed the industry. They had more debt and lower profit margins. They had managed to alienate customers, employees, and investors alike. Their own data shows they had chased away frequent flyers.

When American Airlines lost their LATAM partnership last fall the floodgates of criticism finally opened. People were openly asking how the Board of Directors could abide a plummeting share price and broken operation at an airline which seemed strategically adrift?

Continue Reading »

Why First Class Meals Matter, And American Airlines Is Headed The Wrong Direction

by Gary Leff

Jul 19 2020

American Airlines is dropping meals on most domestic flights that are over 2200 miles as well as short haul international. These flights, that have been receiving single tray meal service in first class throughout the pandemic, will get a fruit and cheese plate instead.

Here’s why this ‘first world problem’ actually matters more now than ever.

Continue Reading »