American to Drop Burbank and Delhi Flights

AMR Corporation, the parent of US carrier American Airlines, has announced that the carrier will suspend flights on the Dallas Fort Worth – Burbank domestic route and Chicago – New Delhi international link over the next two months as it begins a cull of unprofitable routes. The company says the airline will continue to evaluate its operations and streamline its network and didn't rule out further service cuts in the coming months.

The airline’s daily Chicago – New Delhi route will close from March 1, 2012, due, according to an internal memo, to “the historical financial performance of the route and its future outlook given the global economic climate and high oil prices.” The link, launched in November 2005, is currently the longest in the American Airlines network with a flying time of around 15 hours. Air India also serves the route on a daily basis, but American will instead offer links to the city in partnership with oneworld partners via European hubs.

According to AMR, the airline’s flights from Dallas Fort Worth International to Burbank, California will close on February 9, 2012. American Airlines is the sole operator on the route with a twice daily service using a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and this is the carrier’s only flight into the Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport, which serves the wider Los Angeles County.

“Our objective is to make our company competitive and more efficient in an increasingly challenging industry,” AMR said in the statement. “We will continue to respond to operational and market changes, as we always have, and to make adjustments to ensure we are competitive.”