[UPDATED] Airlines Continue to Cut Services Globally

Airlines continue to cut services and amend their frequencies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting travel around the world.

This article has been updated to reflect new network changes by airlines globally

UAE Bans All Flights

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, together with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in Abu Dhabi, will suspend all inbound, outbound, and transit passenger flights in the UAE from March 25 for 14 days, subject to further directives by the relevant authorities.

The decision affects every airline in the UAE including Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad Airways and FlyDubai.

Thai Cuts Europe & Australia Flights

Thai Airways will suspend flights to Europe and Australia and cut back on its regional network from the end of March. The national carrier of Thailand will end its services to Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney from March 27, and its flights to Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London, Moscow, Oslo, Paris and Stockholm from 1 April 2020.

In addition, the airline has cancelled from March 25 flights to and from Beijing, Chengdu, Colombo, Denpasar, Dhaka, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Islamabad, Jakarta, Karachi, Kathmandu, Kunming, Lahore, Nagoya, Osaka, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Vientiane, Xiamen and Yangon. Its domestic services to Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Krabi have been transferred to Thai Smile.

The carrier had already cancelled flights to Auckland, Bengaluru, Busan, Chennai, Dubai, Fukuoka, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Milan, Mumbai, Muscat, New Delhi, Rome, Sapporo, Sendai and Vienna.

The suspensions are expected to last into April.

Air Astana & FlyArystan Suspend Flights

Kazakhstan national carrier Air Astana and its low-cost subsidiary FlyArystan has suspended scheduled flights until 15th April 2020 following the lockdown of Almaty and Nur-Sultan as a result of progressive government restrictions intended to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

International flights will now only be carried out for the purpose of repatriating the citizens of Kazakhstan and providing foreign citizens with the opportunity to leave the country. The Air Astana Group of airlines will continue to operate domestic flights as long as it is possible with the intention of returning passengers to their place of permanent residence.

Both foreign and Kazakh passengers affected by flight suspensions through until 15th April 2020 are eligible for a refund by contacting refund@airastana.com or by filling out the refund form online. Passengers can request flight re-bookings or route changes up until the end of 2020.

Qantas

Qantas Suspends All International Services

Qantas has continued with its extensive network cuts by announcing a suspension of all international flights from late March, due to travel restrictions and low traveller numbers.

Earlier this week, cuts to 90 per cent of international flying and about 60 per cent of domestic flying were announced by Qantas and Jetstar. With the Australian Government now recommending against all overseas travel from Australia and closing its borders to non-residents, regularly scheduled international flights will continue until late March to assist with repatriation and will then be suspended until at least the end of May.

In addition, Jetstar Asia (Singapore) will suspend all flights from March 23 to at least April 15, 2020; Jetstar Japan has suspended international flights and cut domestic services, and Jetstar Pacific (Vietnam) will follow suit.

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Under the move, more than 150 aircraft will be temporarily grounded, including all of Qantas’ A380s, 747s and B787-9s and Jetstar’s B787-8s.

Essential domestic, regional and freight connections will be maintained as much as possible.

Air Canada Cuts International & Domestic Network

After the US and Canada agreed to close their borders, the latest in a series of closures around the globe, Air Canada has announced it will suspend the majority of its international routes and cut back its domestic network from March 31, 2020.

The airline will continue to operate a limited number of international “air bridges” in order to maintain trade, repatriate Canadians and aid stranded travellers. These services will take effect April 1 and will be between one or more of its Canada hubs, to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Delhi, Tokyo and Hong Kong. The cuts will reduce Air Canada’s network from 101 airports to six.

Air Canada

Air Canada will also reduce its transborder flights from 53 airports to 13; destinations in the US that will be maintained include New York (LGA and EWR), Boston, Washington, D.C. (IAD and DCA), Chicago, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, albeit with reduced capacity.

READ: 5 Steps to Protecting Yourself From COVID-19 When Travelling

The airline will continue to serve a reduced domestic network to all territories between April 1-30, 2020.

Affected customers, including those with Air Canada Vacations packages, whose flights are cancelled will receive a full credit valid for 24 months. There is no requirement to contact Air Canada as customers will be contacted directly.

United Cuts Domestic & International Flights

United Airlines will cut its U.S. and Canada schedule in April by 42 per cent and its international flights by 85 per cent, due to global travel restrictions and falling traveller numbers. The cuts mean the airline will only operate 45 daily flights to destinations in Europe, the Pacific, Asia and Latin America in April.

Cost-saving measures adopted by the airline include consolidating airport facilities in Atlantic and other destinations, the potential closure of airport lounges, the accelerated retirement of older aircraft types; and the parking of at least half of its fleet until travel conditions improve.

While it has made cuts across its domestic network, United says it will not suspend services to any specific destination yet.

SIA Made Network Cuts

Singapore Airlines will join other global carriers in cutting its network in the wake of travel bans resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic. The airline will operate at a 50 per cent reduced capacity in April, with more cuts expected as national borders close.

“We have lost a large amount of our traffic in a very short time, and it will not be viable for us to maintain our current network,” says airline CEO Goh Choon Phong. “Make no mistake, we expect the pace of this deterioration to accelerate. The SIA Group must be prepared for a prolonged period of difficulty.”

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Tickets for flights that are cancelled will automatically be converted into an open ticket for travel that only needs to be completed by 31 March 2021.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific & Cathay Dragon Continues Cuts

Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon will continue to strip back its network in direct response to travel bans and dropping traveller numbers. The airline announced previously a flight capacity reduction of 65 per cent for March and now expects to operate a “bare skeleton passenger flight schedule” in April, representing a 90 per cent capacity reduction.

“If we do not see a relaxation of travel restrictions in the near future, we expect the same arrangement will have to continue into May,” says Cathay Pacific Group chief customer and commercial officer Ronald Lam.

Finnair Cuts 90 Percent of its Network

Finnair will cut capacity by 90 per cent from April 1, maintaining what it calls “critical air connections for Finland”. The airline will cut between 1,500 and 2,000 flights before the end of March, reducing its network to approximately 20 routes, including just four domestic routes, and limited flights to Amersterdam, Berlin, Brussel, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Paris, Stockholm and Zurich.

Finnair had already cancelled all its flights to Delhi between March 15 and April 14 after India announced new visa restrictions this week. The airline has also cancelled all flights to the US between March 19 and April 12 after President Donald Trump banned flights between European members of the Schengen border-free travel area and America. Now the carrier adds Tokyo to the list of suspended routes.

READ: Airline Association Urges End to Travel Bans

AA to Suspend or Cancel Selected Services

American Airlines has also made a series of adjustments to its schedules due to falling traveller numbers caused by the outbreak. The carrier, which has already cut flights to Hong Kong from Dallas-Forth Worth and Los Angeles, will reduce international capacity for the summer season by 34 per cent, including a 50 per cent reduction in April trans-Atlantic capacity.

Airlines cut services

With the ban on Transatlantic flights, the carrier will continue to operate flights to and from Europe, operating flights from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), New York City (JFK), and Miami (MIA) to Barcelona (BCN), Madrid (MAD) and Paris (CDG), for up to seven days to ensure customers and employees can return home.

Suspended routes include Charlotte and Philadelphia to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid, Munich and Zurich, as both US airports are not government-approved gateways; the London services from North Carolina’s Raleigh/Durham airport; and London Heathrow services from New York’s JFK, Dallas-Forth Worth and Chicago.

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AA will also reduce services to South America, including a suspension of flights to Argentina; although suspended flights are expected to resume as early as May 7, 2020.

South American services that will be affected include flights from Miami, New York JFK, Dallas-Forth Worth and Los Angeles LAX to Buenos Aires (EZE); flights between Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles LAX and São Paulo; and the Dallas service to Santiago, with the service from Miami to Cordoba, Argentina being cancelled indefinitely;

In lieu of the changes, American has offered to waive change fees for customers who purchased tickets prior to March 11 for travel to Europe, including the United Kingdom, through May 31.

American Airlines will also close more Admirals Club lounges, reduce flight attendant-customer interaction and maximizing space between customers on aircraft. To maximise social distancing and minimize contact between flight attendants and customers, American will offer limited food and beverage options from March 27 until April 30, 2020. The reduced service will be based on flight length and destination, and the airline has indicated that it may even make bottled water and snacks available at the gate in the near future.

For all flights shorter than 2,200 miles (typically less than 4 1/2 hours) alcohol will not be available in the Main Cabin and will be available on request in first class; beverages will be limited to water, canned beverages or juice; no snacks or food for purchase will be served; and meals will not be offered in first class.

For all flights longer than 2,200 miles (typically more than 4 1/2 hours), including transcontinental and flights to Hawaii, alcohol will not be served in Main Cabin and Main Cabin Extra except on long-haul international flights, but will be available in first class. Other Main Cabin beverages will be served as usual, although no snacks or food for purchase will be served. Main Cabin meals will be served on long-haul international flights, and first and business class meals will be served on one tray versus in courses. American will also suspend pre-departure beverage service on all flights.

“Our flight attendants spend the most time with our customers and play a critical role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our customers,” says Jill Surdek, senior vice president of Flight Service. “As a result of working with our flight attendant team and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, we are taking these necessary steps today and will continue to update our policies in response to guidance from the CDC.”

American will temporarily close most Admirals Club lounges, but will maintain front desk customer service at large U.S. airports and at London’s Heathrow Airport. These changes go into effect beginning Thursday, March 26, 2020.

Also, and in response to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) social distancing guidelines, gate agents and flight attendants will be able to proactively reassign seats to create more space between customers beginning. Once on board and provided there aren’t any aircraft weight or balance restrictions, customers can move to another seat within their ticketed cabin subject to availability. American will also block 50% of all middle seats and all seats adjacent to Flight Attendant jump seats on every flight.

Airlines cut services

Vietnam Cuts Europe Flights

Vietnam Airlines will temporarily suspend all international flights within its network until April 30, 2020. Flights to/from Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar will cease from March 21, while flights to/from the UK and Japan will be suspended from March 23, 2020. Vietnam Airlines flights to Germany and Australia will stopped from March 24, while the return flights will end on March 25.

The airline had previously suspended services connecting Vietnam with China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, France, Russia, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

To support passengers affected by these flight suspensions, Vietnam Airlines will waive fees and conditions for flight date and itinerary changes for all affected passengers whose international flight tickets are issued before 25 March 2020.

Brussels Airlines Reduces Europe Services

With overall demand continuing to decrease in Italy and in the rest of Europe, Brussels Airlines has further reduced its flight frequencies on a number of routes to Italy, including a reduction of 30 per cent to and from Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa, Venice, Rome, Bologna and Turin between March 2-28, as well as a 23 per cent cut to Europe destinations between March 8-28.

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Air Busan Cuts Asian Routes, Cancels Daegu Route

In addition to cancelling flights to Daegu, the most COVID-19 affected region in South Korea, Air Busan will cut services to several Asian and Oceania destinations, including Taipei, Da Nang, Kaohsiung, Hanoi, Laos, Cebu and Boracay in the Philippines; Siem Reap, Kota Kinabalu, Vladivostok, Guam, and Ulaanbaatar.

Cuts for Austrian

Austrian Airlines has already cancelled 40 per cent of its Italian services in March and April, as well its flights to Tehran and China. The carrier has now cancelled 20 per cent of all flights within its continental network in the month of March, although all destinations will still be served. For flights between March 28, passengers will be automatically rebooked on other flights or receive a refund.

Airlines cut services

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“We are reacting to the current developments surrounding the COVID-19 virus by further flight schedule thinning,” says Austrian Airlines CCO Andreas Otto. “It is painful, but unfortunately necessary, to reduce our flight schedule by about 20 per cent in March. We are monitoring the situation very closely and are preparing to take further measures.”

Passengers whose flights have been cancelled can rebook free of charge or receive a refund on request.

Air New Zealand Slashes International Network

With New Zealand now demanding a 14 day self-isolation period for all arrivals, the country’s national carrier has made dramatic reductions to its international network, in line with many of its competitors.

On its long haul network, Air New Zealand will be reducing its capacity by 85 per cent over the coming months, including a suspension of its flights between Auckland and Chicago, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Vancouver, Tokyo (Narita), Honolulu, Taipei, and Bali from March 30. The suspensions are expected to be revised on June 30.

The airline will also suspend its London-Los Angeles service, in keeping with a travel ban on Trans-Atlantic flights, as of March 20.

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Given that Australia has also demanded a self-isolation period for all new arrivals, Air New Zealand will cut its Tasman and Pacific Island network capacity from March 30. Tasman services, including Wellington to Sydney, Christchurch to Sydney, Auckland to Sydney, Auckland to Brisbane, and Auckland to Melbourne have been reduced, while all other Tasman routes will be suspended. This includes Auckland services to Adelaide, Cairns, the Sunshine Coast, Perth and Coolangatta; Christchurch services to Brisbane, Melbourne and Coolangatta; Wellington services to Brisbane and Melbourne; and Queenstown services to Melbourne and Sydney.

The airline’s domestic network will also be reduced by approximately 30 per cent.

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