(CNN) — American Airlines is once again cutting its flight schedule, slashing 16% or 31,000 flights during November, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company.
The airline said the move is “in line with our approach to network and schedule planning throughout the year.”
Schedule data provided by Cirium shows the largest cuts are between Chicago O’Hare and Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as between Boston and Philadelphia.
“Preliminary schedules are published 331 days in advance and then adjustments are made closer in based on the schedule we intend to operate,” American said to CNN in a statement. “We are now loading schedule adjustments approximately 100 days in advance, which is in line with how we adjusted our schedule in 2019 prior to the pandemic.”
CNN’s Pete Muntean reports on how the airline industry is preparing for an increase in travel demand as it juggles crew shortages and weather issues.
American Airlines called the changes “proactive adjustments” in order to “size our airline for the resources we have available and to build additional buffer into the remainder of our summer schedule.”
Airlines make changes based on factors such as demand forecasts or staffing, said Mike Arnot, an industry commentator and spokesman for Cirium.
“For passengers, the impact might be negligible; instead of 15 flights a day between Dallas and Chicago, there might be nine flights but with more bums in the seats,” Arnot said.
American isn’t the only US airline to trim its schedule.
Top image: American Airlines planes are seen at Philadelphia International Airport on June 20, 2022. (Daniel Slim/AFP/Getty Images)
