American Airlines to further cut its summer schedule as it waits for Boeing 787 deliveries

Routes between Seattle and London, Los Angeles and Sydney, and Dallas and Santiago would temporarily be suspended

American Airlines has said 787 Dreamliner jets remain an 'essential' part of its fleet and that Boeing would compensate it for delivery delays. AFP
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American Airlines Group has said it plans to further trim its summer schedule, owing to Boeing's delay in delivering 787 Dreamliner jets.

In a regulatory filing, the Texas-based carrier said it now expects to receive only 10 Dreamliner planes this year, not the 13 expected earlier. The remaining jets are now scheduled for delivery next year, it said.

As a result, American said it would temporarily suspend routes between Seattle and London, Los Angeles and Sydney, and Dallas and Santiago. The company will also delay the launch of service between Dallas and Tel Aviv, and reduce the frequency of flights between Miami and São Paulo to one a day.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the plan to trim the summer schedule.

In December, the carrier had announced plans to scrap, reduce or delay the introduction of flights to several international destinations, including Hong Kong, saying the delays in deliveries of the 787s had crimped its ability to expand capacity.

Deliveries of the 787 are expected to remain frozen for months as US regulators review repairs and inspections over structural flaws in the jets, Reuters reported last month.

American was expecting to receive the first delivery in April. However, Boeing has said that the timing would be set by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

The Chicago-based plane maker last month unveiled a $3.5 billion pre-tax non-cash charge related to 787 delivery delays and customer concessions.

In the filing on Friday, American said the 787 Dreamliner jets remain an "essential" part of its fleet and that Boeing would compensate it for the delivery delays.

Last month, the carrier said the continuing delays in 787 deliveries have added to its cost pressure.

Updated: February 19, 2022, 1:00 PM