American Airlines dropping service to 2 airports in the Carolinas. Here’s when and why
American Airlines is suspending flights to some smaller airports, leaving two cities in the Carolinas without a major carrier.
The airline on Thursday announced it would stop service this fall to Pitt-Greenville Airport in North Carolina and Florence Regional Airport in South Carolina.
The suspension is in effect Oct. 7 to Nov. 3 and will impact 15 airports nationwide, the company said in a news release.
An arrival and departure chart for the Greenville airport listed only American Airlines flights as of Thursday afternoon. Greenville, home to East Carolina University, is roughly 85 miles east of Raleigh.
“It’s definitely something that we didn’t want to hear,” Bill Hopper, executive director of Pitt-Greenville Airport, told Triangle Business Journal. “We’re a small commercial service airport. ... American Airlines is the only airline at this airport, and so it’s definitely going to impact air service in and out of this airport during that period.”
American Airlines is also the only carrier serving the Florence airport, which is near Interstate 95 and about 65 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach.
The airline said it dropped flights to some smaller cities as it sees reduced travel demand. Its commitment to the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act is also set to end, according to the company.
“American and the other U.S. passenger carriers that accepted portions of $25 billion in federal payroll support were required to maintain minimum levels of service through Sept. 30,” CNBC reported.
The changes were announced as the coronavirus continues to upend the travel industry. During the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges people to stay home to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
American Airlines said other airports with suspended flights serve Del Rio, Texas; Dubuque, Iowa; Huntington, West Virginia; Joplin, Missouri; Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan; Lake Charles, Louisiana; New Haven, Connecticut; New Windsor, New York; Roswell, New Mexico; Sioux City, Iowa; Springfield, Illinois; Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
“The airline will continue to re-assess plans for these and other markets as an extension of the Payroll Support Program remains under deliberation,” officials said in their news release.
The carrier said it would share its complete October schedule on Aug. 29 and a November schedule by the end of September.
This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 4:23 PM.
