Two more destinations from the list of 15 to be dropped by American Airlines in October have been granted a moment’s respite. Essential air service city Joplin, Missouri, and Roswell, New Mexico, will remain on the carrier’s network map a little longer.
As the aid part of the CARES package runs out on September 30th along with its obligations, American Airlines first threatened to cut some 30 smaller cities around the country from its network. The carrier later backtracked and announced it would no longer serve 15 airports. However, American left the door open for further network reductions from November if deemed necessary.
As we reported on Tuesday, Sioux City in Iowa has already been retracted from the list of the 15 destinations that the airline will cut in October. Now it seems American will also hold off on dropping Roswell, New Mexico, and Joplin, Missouri from its network.
SUX and JLN considered EAS
Sioux City and Joplin are considered to be “essential air service” (EAS) cities by the Department of Transportation (DOT). This is in accordance with a regulation dating back to 1978 provides for government subsidies for some smaller cities that may otherwise not be profitable for airlines to ensure a minimal level of flight connections. (Sioux City is an “eligible EAS community,” however as of February 2020, it was not subsidized.)
While American may pull out of Sioux City, which it still serves with daily flights to Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago, if the DOT permits, the city would not be left without connectivity. United Express flights, operated by SkyWest Airlines, to Denver International Airport, will take off once per day beginning on Wednesday, October 14th.
Roswell important facility for AA
However, American is currently the sole carrier flying to both Joplin and Roswell. Roswell relies on the airline for tourism, its economy and transporting residents as the next closest city with air service is two and a half hours away.
Furthermore, it is a mutually beneficial relationship with American storing dozens of its parked planes in the New Mexico desert outside of Roswell, including some of its grounded 737 MAX jets.
American Airlines was not immediately available for comment, but a spokesperson for the carrier told Dallas News that,
“While our flights to Roswell are among those that have suffered when it comes to demand and profitability, we have been in touch with local officials and will defer our decision to suspend service to the market as those conversations are ongoing.”
CARES service requirements
While on the CARES payroll support program, US airlines were first prohibited from suspending services to destinations altogether, although they were allowed to consolidate flights and reduce schedules.
The DOT subsequently eased some of the regulations as carriers were forces to operate near-empty flights that made no sense. This allowed airlines to choose 5% of their total destinations to drop from the schedule.
