American Airlines is temporarily suspending some of its routes this summer, as steep jet fuel costs continue to strain carriers’ budgets amid the war with Iran. In a statement, American said it had adjusted service for “select routes” in August and September—and that impacted travelers would be offered alternative arrangements or refunds. The Texas-based airline cited elevated fuel costs and maintained that these changes were in line with wider industry trends, the AP reports.
American also said that it was not cutting any of its routes indefinitely and that it was proud to “offer an industry-leading network with more flights than any other US airline.” Still, the summer suspensions could cause more headaches for travelers already facing fewer flight options and higher price tags across their budgets. The affected routes, per CBS News:
- Los Angeles to Cleveland, Ohio
- Los Angeles to Columbus, Ohio
- Los Angeles to Pittsburgh
- Los Angeles to Washington Dulles
- Charlotte, NC to Ontario, California
- Charlotte, NC to Sacramento, California
Airlines around the world have canceled numerous flights or similarly trimmed schedules through the coming months—and many are also hiking fees or cutting other perks in efforts to save money. That’s because the cost of jet fuel, which can account for about 30% of airlines’ total expenses, has soared during the war. A barrel averaged at nearly $142 last week, according to the International Air Transport Association. That’s down from an April peak, but still far higher than the $99 jet fuel was going for per barrel before the US and Israel launched the war with attacks on Iran in late February.
