Boeing’s aircraft delivery delays are forcing American Airlines to reduce three long-haul routes from DFW International Airport this year.
The ongoing Boeing 787 Dreamliner delivery delays have forced an adjustment in service on certain routes for the second half of the year and first quarter of 2025, according to American. The three routes include American’s daily flights to Dublin, suspended beginning Oct. 26 and returning summer 2025; daily flights to Rome, also suspended Oct. 26 and returning summer 2025; and flights to Kona International Airport will not operate in the winter.
“We’re making these adjustments now to ensure we’re able to re-accommodate customers on affected flights,” said Andrea Koos, spokeswoman at American. “We’ll be proactively reaching out to impacted customers to offer alternate travel arrangements. We remain committed to our customers and team members and mitigating the impact of these delays while continuing to offer a comprehensive global network.”
The airline is still planning to fly 55 long-haul international routes in the winter but will evaluate its network as Boeing delivery delays continue. The airline expects to receive three 787 Dreamliners this year, down from six. Boeing said last week that it anticipates delays in deliveries of 787 Dreamliner planes because of shortages of “a few key parts.”
Southwest Airlines has also lowered its expectations for aircraft deliveries from plane maker Boeing Co. as well. Where it now expects 20 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft deliveries in 2024, it previously anticipated 46. In March, a regulatory filing reported the airline had lowered its expectations to 46 from 79.
American Airlines is also reducing routes at other airports.
Those include four international routes from John F. Kennedy International Airport, one route from Philadelphia International Airport to Venice, one route from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Paris, two international routes from Miami International Airport. Routes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Honolulu International Airport and Kahului Airport will no longer operate on Boeing 787 aircraft in the winter, except Nov. 16 to Dec 2.
The delay in deliveries follows a series of safety issues plaguing the aircraft manufacturer, such as January’s Alaska Airlines blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of a Boeing 737 Max 9 fuselage. The blowout continues to make headlines, and the Federal Aviation Administration opened an investigation into Boeing.
“While Boeing delivery delays have impacted mainline capacity production, they have been largely offset by improvement in our regional aircraft utilization,” said Devon May, chief financial officer at American during the company’s quarterly earnings call. “Aircraft delivery delays are impacting the entire industry, but they are not having the same impact on American as other carriers since we are not as dependent on new aircraft deliveries as most of our peers.”
American chief Robert Isom said he’s talked to “everyone at Boeing” that he could with the same message: “Get your act together.”
“I can’t tell you if they’re making progress or not, because it’s all actions that matter, not words, and we’re continuing to work with them,” Isom said. “We’ll do everything we can to support Boeing. We need them to be successful in the long run.”
