American Airlines cuts international flight from Phoenix. Here's what we know
A year-round international route at the Phoenix airport will now only be offered seasonally.
American Airlines plans to suspend nonstop flights between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Heathrow Airport in London in late October.
American began Phoenix-London flights in March 2019 on a seasonal basis. The route was suspended a year later because of travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, then relaunched in 2022 as a year-round route when travel restrictions were lifted.
Now, the route will become seasonal again. After a five-month pause, American's nonstop Phoenix-London flights are scheduled to resume in spring 2025.
This is the first service reduction for one of Sky Harbor's intercontinental flights since they returned following the pandemic. Service has increased in recent months: Air France launched a new route to Paris, and Condor Airlines' flights between Phoenix and Frankfurt, Germany expanded to three times weekly and began flying with a larger plane.
When does American Airlines' Phoenix-London nonstop end?
American Airlines' last nonstop flight between Phoenix and London is Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, according to American Airlines' flight schedule.
The route will resume on a seasonal basis starting Saturday, March 29, 2025.
What airlines fly from Phoenix to London?
British Airways also operates Phoenix-London flights between Sky Harbor and Heathrow.
British Airways, which has served Sky Harbor since 1996, will continue to offer once-daily nonstop flights between the two cities while American's route is suspended for the winter season.
Why is the Phoenix-London flight ending?
American Airlines provided the following statement when asked why the Phoenix-London route would shift from year-round to seasonal:
"As part of the continuous evaluation of our network, American Airlines will adjust service from London (Heathrow Airport). Together with our partner British Airways, we will continue to operate service from more than 25 destinations across the United States to (Heathrow Airport). We’re proactively reaching out to impacted customers to offer alternate travel arrangements."
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: American Airlines drops Phoenix-London nonstop flight
