American Airlines is about to suspend all scheduled flights from Chicago's O’Hare Airport to European destinations through early May.
The only remaining American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) European route still operating from O’Hare as of Tuesday was the carrier’s nonstop service from O’Hare to London’s Heathrow Airport.
But after American said in recent days that it is slashing 75 percent of its international flights due to the spread of the coronavirus, all O’Hare-Heathrow flights were designated to be suspended starting March 19 through at least May 6.
As recently as a month ago, American was operating four flights daily between O’Hare and Heathrow, by far the busiest international route for all carriers flying internationally from O’Hare.
In addition to the four daily flights American was operating, United operated three daily nonstops from O’Hare to Heathrow.
United has not yet announced what cuts it might make between O’Hare and Heathrow. But the carrier is expected to announce as soon as Tuesday what route cuts are coming as it pares 50 percent of its flight schedule.
President Donald Trump announced this past weekend that he was banning anyone but American citizens entering the United States from the United Kingdom. That edict took effect at midnight on Monday.
British Airways still had its two daily nonstops between O’Hare and Heathrow in the reservations system as of Tuesday and had not formally announced any planned cuts from Chicago. Low-fare international carrier Norwegian Air, which had a seasonal service between O’Hare and London’s Gatwick Airport, on Monday said it is cancelling 85 percent of all flights systemwide and laying off 90 percent of staff, a total of 7,300 employees.
An American Airlines spokeswoman on Tuesday said the carrier could have additional details about changes in its domestic flight schedule shortly.
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