Tag: American

American Airlines Suspends 4 Popular International Routes While Cutting Flights To More U.S. Cities
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Out of concern they will not be able to cope with a rising travel demand, and in order to protect other important routes, American Airlines has made the painful decision to suspend four of its most popular international flights. While two of them will be unavailable during winter only, the others were either paused indefinitely – or worse, axed forever.

As if that weren’t enough, the airline is pulling out of three U.S. cities amid a major network shake-up, unceremoniously severing vital links between smaller domestic hubs and larger airports. The first post-Covid summer may be completely restriction-free, as promised, but cancellations and travel disruption continue widespread across the industry.

American’s latest scale back is yet another proof of that:

American Drops 3 U.S. Cities From Map While Suspending A Number Of International Routes

Citing staffing constraints and, more importantly, pilot shortages, American Airlines is dropping three routes and ‘temporarily’ halting service on five others, both domestic and international. Three of those are paused indefinitely, while two are unavailable through winter 2022. Below, you will find a list of all affected destinations and their current status:

Domestic
- Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT) to Alexandria, Louisiana (AEX) – Cut
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Ontario, California (ONT) – Cut
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to El Paso, Texas (ELP) – Suspended indefinitely
- Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT) to Sioux Falls, South Dakota (FSD) – Suspended indefinitely
International
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Saint Lucia (UVF) – Cut
- Dallas/Forth Worth (DFW) to San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP) – Suspended indefinitely
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ) – Suspended during winter 2022
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI) – Suspended during winter 2022
Judging by the airline’s recent announcements, which include new flights to Cozumel, in Mexico, and two destinations in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic no longer ranks high on their list of priority destinations right now, with a majority of American travelers set to fly to Mexico instead this summer.

Small Cities In The States Of New York And Ohio Will Have New Connectivity Problems

Dealing another heavy blow to regional airports, which are among some of the most affected by cuts and trimmed schedules during the worsening aviation crisis, American Airlines is also dropping a further three U.S. cities from their route map altogether. Effective September 7, the airline will cease serving the following hubs:
- Islip, New York (ISP)
- Ithaca, New York (ITH)
- Toledo, Ohio (TOL)
According to an American Airlines spokesperson, the company made the ‘difficult decision’ to withdraw from the three cities as it struggles with staff shortages, affecting not only them but every major airline in the U.S. at present. They have reassured customers they will ‘proactively reach out’ to them after September 7 to offer ‘alternate arrangements’.

Passengers from both Islip and Ithaca relied on the availability of intra-U.S. flights to access major networks, within the U.S. and abroad, while Toledo residents are left with no choice but to drive two hours to Cleveland when vital links are cut. Now that one of the largest airlines in America has given up on them, logistics could become a lot more complex.

Envoy Air, American’s regional affiliate, had historically connected Toledo’s Express Airport to Chicago O’Hare (ORD), one of the busiest in the States. Sadly, even after having established a strong presence in this market over many years, and offering Toledo’s only gateway into the world, American Airlines saw no other choice but to shut down all operations.

Similarly to Envoy, Piedmont Airlines provided easy links to Philadelphia (PHL) from both Tompkins International Airport, in Ithaca, and the Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip. Those will no longer be available come September 7, when the changes will be enacted and American Airlines is due to end the aforementioned service.

Toledo Is Now Effectively Cut Off From All Major Flight Networks

It’s not all bad for the New York cities, as they will remain connected to the networks of at least 4 big U.S. carriers. Southwest Airlines will continue operating in Islip, alongside Frontier and Breeze, and Ithaca still has Delta Connection and United Express as backup now that American is leaving for good. Conversely, connectivity has been seriously reduced in Toledo.

Once American Airlines halts operations in the city, ultra low-cost airline Allegiant Air will be the only airline present in the city. Flights are only available to a handful of other small U.S. hubs, such as Orlando/Sanford, Phoenix/Mesa, Punta Gorda in Florida and St Petersburg/Clearwater – we’re afraid the two-hour drive to Cleveland is the least stressful option here.

The presence of strategic route maps that benefit smaller airports is paramount for regional connectivity, something that has come under threat again as the industry seeks to readjust overambitious schedules following an unprecedented surge in passenger numbers. Unfortunately, local hubs should brace for far greater future challenges yet to come.

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June 22, 2022
These Are The The Top 3 Destinations In Mexico For American Tourists This Summer
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It seems Mexico’s friendly attitude to tourists throughout Covid will not be forgotten anytime soon. Even though other countries are open for travel again, it’s the freedom-loving Mayan heartland, where tourism has been allowed without interruptions throughout the whole pandemic, that continues to attract a record number of visitors.

As a result, three Mexican cities now feature on Allianz Travel Top 10 International Summer Destinations, the most out of any country listed. In fact, Mexico claims the top two entirely to itself, asserting its status as the King of Tourism – a title that will not be challenged anytime soon, despite Aruba, Jamaica, and the like all being back in the game.

Ready to find out which Mexican cities have won the hearts of the nation? Here are Mexico’s 3 top destinations for American tourists this summer:

Puerto Vallarta, Pacific Coast

Puerto Vallarta is arguably the Mexican Pacific Coast’s crown jewel, where the country’s best nightlife can be found, as well as countless sandy beaches and natural landmarks within close proximity to major urban centers. It is not only a summer, but a year-round favorite for vacationers, and ranks at number six on Allianz’ annual summer travel picks.

Up 3 slots since last year’s ranking, when it had already broken into the top 10 charting at a respectable number 9, Puerto Vallarta keeps growing in popularity among U.S. travelers, particularly due to the recent connection boost between the Mexican hub and several U.S. cities, and the the State of Jalisco’s unparalleled tourist offer.

With Covid being treated as endemic in Mexico, and Vallarta tourists no longer expected to follow pandemic-era regulations, such as mask-wearing and social distancing, the city is poised to climb even higher on future lists. According to Allianz, it is already Mexico’s third busiest summer destination for American travelers.

San Jose del Cabo, Pacific Coast

Number two on Allianz’ list for yet another year, San Jose del Cabo has been a permanent feature on the bucket list of millions due to its vast collection of clear water beaches and picturesque, colonial-style architecture. Additionally, it is one of a handful of places in Mexico where History and sightseeing lovers converge with laid-back beachgoers.

Cabo truly has it all: from world-renowned art galleries and Spanish-era missionary churches, to beautiful nature reserves where bird-spotting activities are widely promoted and, of course, miles-long sandy beach strips adorning the coast. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in Mexico’s rich past, or simply enjoy a day in the sun, this is the place to go.

Luckily, despite being a major entry point for Americans visiting Mexico, the Los Cabos International Airport serving San Jose has not experienced the same level of saturation seen in Mexico City, or Cancun Airport’s longer wait times. It is also only two and a half hours away flying from most cities in the Southern U.S., making it an ideal summer break.

Cancun, The Caribbean

Claiming the coveted spot of America’s preferred vacay for the sixth year in a row, Cancun is further widening the gap between itself and all other Mexican, and non-Mexican destinations on Allianz’ list. Out of Mexico’s expected 40 million visitors this year, a sizable portion of Americans have selected Cancun as their destination for 2022.

According to Cirium, one of the world’s largest provider of data on aviation, there are currently 831 weekly flight routes between the U.S. and Cancun International, making it by far Mexico’s busiest – and most loved – summer destination. Now that a beach close to Cancun has been named the best in all of Mexico, we expect these impressive numbers to rise even higher.

Cancun is widely recognized as the gateway to the Mexico’s Caribbean Coast, dotted with white sand beaches and Mayan ruins of inestimable cultural relevance. Cancun International serves not only Cancun, but several small resort towns around the metropolis, such as Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres off the mainland.

What Other International Destinations Are On The List?

This year’s Allianz Top 10 International Summer Destinations list is available in full below:
1. Cancun, Mexico
2. San Jose del Cabo, Mexico
3. Oranjestad, Aruba
4. Montego Bay, Jamaica
5. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
6. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
7. Nassau, The Bahamas
8. Liberia, Costa Rica
9. Providenciales Island, Turks & Caicos
10. Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
But how has Allianz been able to establish that? In sum, researchers looked at data from over a million trips to be taken by their own customers over the summer season, especially those who purchased an Allianz Partners travel insurance between 5 and 8 days. Unsurprisingly, Mexico came out ahead of all other competitors with the most planned itineraries.

For the restriction-wary, all of the destinations above are welcoming American tourists with no health-related requirements, with the exception of Nassau in The Bahamas and Providenciales Island in Turks & Caicos. Those two countries require travelers to be fully vaccinated, or present a negative Covid as valid proof of entry when unvaccinated.

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June 20, 2022
American Airlines Launches Flights To Barcelona As Spain Reopens For All U.S. Travelers

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Following a 32-month pause, American Airlines is finally reinstating its seasonal flights to Barcelona for summer 2022. Since June 3, U.S. citizens have been able to fly nonstop between Chicago and Spain’s leading tourist destination, as the American carrier opens up yet another route for Europe-bound vacationers.

A metropolitan city extremely rich in History and ideal for sightseeing, Barcelona sits on Spain’s eastern coast, being the gateway to the autonomous region of Catalonia. Even though Madrid is the number one city in Spain, Barcelona houses some of its most iconic landmarks, including La Sagrada Familia and several Gaudi monuments.

Travel Demand Is Back Now That Most Covid Rules Are Scrapped

Tourism in Europe may have come to a standstill throughout the Covid crisis, but now that the continent is opening its borders once more and dropping most entry requirements, demand for travel is shooting up dramatically. Similarly to other European nations, Spain has also eased its travel rules recently.

Once the Mediterranean hotspot signaled it was moving away from its once-strict Covid policies, American Airlines was quick to relaunch service between two of the busiest airports in the United States and Spain. This means nonstop flights to Barcelona are officially back to Chicago O’Hare International (ORD), just in time for summer.

The last time American offered service on this route had been October 2019, prior to Covid being declared a pandemic in early 2020. While the virus was yet to be controlled, and more disruptive variants kept surging, the route remained unavailable. For two consecutive summers, American Airlines customers based in Chicago were unable to reach Barcelona directly.

That is no longer the case.

American Airlines Ends Two Year Hiatus As Barcelona Route Is Relaunched

The hiatus ended last Friday (3) when American resumed operations on its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, carrying 234 passengers. Similarly to pre-pandemic summers, the Chicago-Barcelona flights will run through October 29, 2022, when the summer/fall tourist season ends in Spain and Europe on an extent.

The AA40 flight leaves Chicago (ORD) at 17:35, arriving to Barcelona (BCN) the following day at 9:00, on a daily frequency. Returning to America, the AA41 flight departs from BCN at 11:35, landing in ORD at 14:35 local time, also daily. Depending on date selection and seating, one-way Economy tickets can range between USD 823.59 and USD 2.819,25.

Besides Chicago, American is also offering flights to Barcelona from 3 other U.S. hubs, including Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), and Philadelphia (PHL). On top of that, the carrier operates on five other routes to Madrid, Spain’s capital: those flights leave from Charlotte (CLT), Dallas (DFW), MIA, JFK and PHL. Frequency is daily in all of them.

Can Americans Visit Spain Restriction-Free?

All Americans are eligible to visit Spain, albeit with different requirements based on vaccination.

The fully immunized are no longer subject to pre-departure testing when boarding a flight to Spain, but the non-vaccinated remain subject to presenting either a negative PCR test result issued less than 72 hours before arrival, or a negative Rapid Antigen (24 hours).

Irrespective of vaccination, U.S. citizens do not have to enter mandatory quarantine or undergo further testing when arriving to Spain. Additionally, Spanish authorities no longer require proof of vaccination to enter enclosed spaces, such as restaurants, travel on public transportation, or visit cultural venues.

Once they are in, all are welcome to explore the Iberian Peninsula’s leading nation hassle-free.

While it has eased its strict Covid-era entry protocols, now allowing the unvaccinated to enter again by presenting negative tests, Spain has refused to drop the mask rule across public transport, including planes. This means mask usage is still necessary when riding on city buses, intercity trains, and when flying within Spain.

What Are Some Of Barcelona’s Main Attractions?

Barcelona is an open air museum and one of Europe’s oldest cities. An intricate maze of narrow streets full of color and countless historical monuments. Housing the impressive Sagrada Familia, which will soon be finished after 144 years, the 13th century Barcelona Cathedral, and the picturesque Latin Quarter, it has enough sights to keep tourists busy for days on end.

Close to Barcelona, popular day trips include visits to the Costa Brava, where charming seaside towns can be found along Catalonia’s Mediterranean coast, the medieval cities of Girona and Lleida, and even the small Catalan-speaking nation of Andorra, which borders Spain and France.

Luckily, all these wonders are now only an 8-hour flight away from the U.S. with American Airlines.

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June 10, 2022
American Travelers Will Have Fast Track Entry When Visiting France This Summer
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Traveling abroad for summer 2022 will be much more challenging than initially expected, as countries struggle to keep up with a rising travel demand and staff shortages. Still, some destinations are better prepared than others, and are even simplifying entry for foreigners. This is the case with France, where Americans now enjoy fast track entry.

Although many travelers are not even aware of this, France allows a number of foreign nationals to cross its borders without thorough checks – including U.S. citizens. While this policy has been around for some time, it was not until recently that it gained traction, as airports in Europe become overwhelmingly busy post-Covid:

Americans Can Enter France Without Speaking To A Border Agent

If you’re a regular traveler in the Old Continent, you may be familiar with the layout of European airports. Usually when landing in Europe, passengers have to stand in one out of two lines: the Europeans’ or the third country nationals’. Anyone who does not hold a passport from an European Union (EU) or EU-associated country is considered a third country national.

Naturally, U.S., Canada, Australia and UK passport holders are all considered third country nationals, as they are not EU citizens. With the exception of Brits, who only left the EU recently, these travelers had been for years subject to long wait times until speaking to a border agent, who would then assess whether they would be allowed into France or not.

This is a very common procedure when traveling abroad, as it is a border agent’s job to verify the intentions of a traveler when visiting a country, and whether they meet certain criteria, including financial requirements. As EU citizens have the right to move freely in Europe, they are not subject to these checks and have always been eligible to use eGates.

In France, they are part of an automated border control system called Parafe, which helps French authorities keep track of border crossings to and from France from outside the borderless Schengen Area. These ‘Eletronic Gates’ ensure faster entry when crossing EU borders, as passengers simply have to scan their passport to be allowed in.

Surprisingly, France now allows select non-EU nationalities to scan their way into the country. In order to benefit from Parafe, and cross into France without speaking to a border agent first, travelers must simply be aged 18 years and older, and hold a valid biometric passport from one of the below countries:
- EU nations
- EEA nations (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway)
- Switzerland
- Andorra
- Monaco
- San Marino
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Japan
- South Korea
This means that, even though they are not Europeans, Americans can still use eGates traveling to France at designated entry poins. More specifically, they are eligible for fast-track entry in 7 international airports, including the busy Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly, which both serve Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille and Nice.

U.S. passport holders can also use automated eGates on at least 4 of France’s international train stations, mainly on United Kingdom-France routes. Those are Gare du Nord, in Paris, St Pancras International, on the British side of the border, the Terminal de Coquelles in France, and the Folkstone Terminal in England.

How To Use An eGate In 4 Quick Steps

When using an eGate, travelers are advsied to follow these steps:
- Remove glasses, scarves, hats and face masks
- Place the passport photo page on the electronic reader
- Stand on the footprints indicated on the floor
- Look at the camera in front of you until the facial recognition process is complete
If you’re successful, after a minute or two, the gates of France – and Europe on an extent – will open for you.

Despite More Relaxed Entry Controls, Schengen Area Rules Have Not Changed

Even though Americans are now guaranteed faster entry into France, this does not mean the rule is replicated in other European countries. With the exception of the UK, which also allows U.S. citizens to use eGates, we still have not heard of other European nations granting Americans (and Canadians on an extent) the privilege.

Whenever traveling to France, Americans are again reminded that, even though they may no longer be required to see a border officer at specific entry points, they can only remain in the country (and the Schengen Area as a whole) for 90 days out of every 180-day period. For that purpose, the Parafe system will keep a record of both entry and exit dates.

When caught overstaying, depending on the length of the illegal stay, Americans risk being fined, detained, or even banned from traveling to Europe for a few years. Any visit to the Schengen Area, which include France and 25 other countries, however short, counts towards your 90-days-out-of-every-180 limit.

If in doubt, always use the official Schengen Calculator.

Is France Open For Tourism Right Now?

Right now, France is open to Americans holding a valid Covid certification, and mainly those who are fully immunized. It is not yet part of the group of European countries that have completely removed entry requirements ahead of summer, but it has progressively eased restrictions over the last few months.

Once in France, travelers are no longer required to wear face coverings indoors or outdoors, including in planes, and the Covid-era Pass sanitaire, France’s controversial vaccine passport, is also not in use. Right now, your main concern traveling to France is the rapid spread of monkeypox and the increasing risk of travel disruption due to understaffed airports.

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June 8, 2022
American Airlines First to Offer New Flights to Ocho Rios, Jamaica

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Further expanding its already comprehensive service to the Caribbean, American Airlines will be launching the first-ever international flight route between the United States and Ocho Rios, in Jamaica.

The resort town, which has risen to prominence in recent years, rivals Montego Bay and Negril as one of the most popular tourist hotspots on the island.

Up until this year, there were no commercial flights available between North America and Ocho Rios. This meant visitors had to fly to other major hubs instead, such as Montego Bay or Kingston, and then transfer to Ocho Rios via land, which can take up to 2 hours.

From 2022 onwards, reaching Ocho Rios’ pristine coastline from America will be much easier.

First International Flights Between The U.S. And Ocho Rios To Launch This November

Although a much smaller airport, Ian Fleming International will host the first Ocho Rios-bound flights from the United States. Located roughly 10 miles away from Ocho Rios, the airport will offer American visitors the opportunity to arrive directly at this destination, as opposed to landing elsewhere in Jamaica.

The exciting news was shared on March 31 by both American Airlines representatives and Jamaican Government officials. They both confirmed the launch of two weekly, non-stop services from Miami to Ocho Rios, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, on an Envoy E-175 aircraft with a seating capacity of between 76 and 88 passengers (including business and economy seats).

As Jamaican officials described, American Airlines is the ‘largest mover of people in and out of Jamaica‘, with the move originating from a recent meeting between senior American executives, and government and private sector representatives in Montego Bay. Among participants, Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, was one of those present.

As Bartlett said during his Observer interview, ‘this is a very valuable addition to the aviation needs of Jamaica, with non-stop service between the United States and our country’s third international airport’. Now, there will be direct flights available from the U.S. to all three major destinations in Jamaica: Kingston, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios.

According to Bartlett, the new service will ‘encourage other airlines to fly into the Oracabessa/Ocho Rios area’, while assisting ‘greatly’ in promoting tourism for less explored destinations, such as St. Mary and Portland parishes.

Ocho Rios itself will also benefit from the larger influx of tourists and more foreign investment.

Is Covid Still A Major Concern For Travelers To Jamaica?

Recently, the U.S. lowered its travel advice against Jamaica from Level 4 to Level 3, with Americans no longer being urged not to travel to the island. Instead, they are advised to ‘reconsider travel’ due to higher Covid levels. Jamaica itself is reporting an average of 21 new infections daily, or only 1% of the previous peak.

On March 1, the country removed its travel authorization form and further relaxed once-strict travel rules. In spite of that, for now, Americans are still required to present a negative Covid test result within 72 hours of arriving in Jamaica, regardless of vaccination status. Both PCR and rapid antigen tests are accepted as proof of entry.

Additionally, those unvaccinated may face harsher restrictions when leaving a ‘resilient corridor’. Jamaica’s resilient corridors are government-designated tourist zones in the country where quarantine mandates usually do not apply to unvaccinated tourists. When fully immunized, Americans are free to leave and enter these zones as they wish.

As stated on the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica’s official webpage, medical services in Jamaica are ‘extremely limited’. For that reason, we would like to remind our readers to purchase travel insurance covering Covid treatment costs and isolation prior to visiting the island.

When insured, travelers are usually better equipped when faced with adverse events, such as testing positive and/or needing treatment, especially in places like Jamaica where hospitals might have fewer professionals available and lower capacity.

Elsewhere in the Caribbean, other island-nations such as Grenada and Aruba have removed all Covid regulation at their outer borders. As more and more countries in the region reopen fully and airlines ramp up services, vacationers should monitor Jamaican news closely for updates concerning international travelers and Covid measures.

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April 3, 2022
American Airlines Begins Selling Alcohol On Flights Again

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The carrier will allow customers to buy beer for $8 and spirits and wine for $9 during flights

The carrier American Airlines announced on Thursday that they will be resuming inflight alcoholic beverages sales starting on April 18 on domestic and short-haul international flights. On the same date the mask mandate for flights is set to expire.

Alcohol has been banned from economy class for almost two years due to passengers’ inappropriate behavior towards crew members and passengers. The decision to bring back beer, wine, and spirits comes after all other airlines lifted this restriction and travelers requested the service.

The airline confirmed in a statement: “Our customers have expressed that having these options onboard is important to their experience with us.” The prices for inflight alcohol in the main cabin have also been shared and are the same as before the pandemic: $8 for a beer and $9 for spirits—gin, rum, vodka, and whiskey— and wine. Snacks are also coming back and prices range from $4 to $6.

The first alcohol restriction started in March 2020, after that, only first-class had access to alcoholic beverages. Starting in April, passengers in Main Cabin Extra—a section with extra legroom— will receive free alcohol as they did before the restriction.

Other airlines had also banned alcohol sales during the pandemic but resumed services during the past few months. American Airlines has been the last carrier to return to inflight alcoholic beverages sales.

Why American Airlines Restricted Alcohol Sales

After the pandemic, there were many reports of unruly passengers from different airlines across the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration shared a report in June 2021 and informed that, since the beginning of the year, it had received around 3,100 reports of unruly passengers’ behavior.

Many of these reports—which include verbal abuse and physical violence— were related to the mask mandate and passengers refusing to wear it. After this, the Agency implemented a “zero tolerance” policy and said fines could raise up to $35,000.

Last year, American Airlines was about to lift the non-alcohol sales mandate implemented in 2020, but decided to postpone this decision. Brady Brynes, the carrier’s Vice President of Flight Service, said in a memo in May 2021: “Over the past week we’ve seen some of these stressors create deeply disturbing situations onboard aircraft. Let me be clear: American Airlines will not tolerate assault or mistreatment of our crews.”

Brynes also added that they understand that customers and also crew members are eager to return to “normal”, but that they had to be cautious. He also told the staff: “We also recognize that alcohol can contribute to atypical behavior from customers onboard and we owe it to our crew not to potentially exacerbate what can already be a new and stressful situation for our customers.”

Other Airlines Restrictions

Two years ago, Southwest Airlines was the first airline to implement the alcohol sales ban due to unruly behavior on March 18. After this mandate, American Airlines, United Airlines, Easyjet, Asia’s Virgin Australia, KLM, and Delta Airlines followed the lead. British Airways also suspended alcohol services but only for short-haul economy.

After prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages, the return of this service in recent months has been offered intermittently. In 2021 Southwest announced that they will resume selling alcohol during flights, but after a passenger physically assaulted a flight attendant, decided to extend the ban.

A spokesman from Southwest Airlines said: “We realize this decision may be disappointing for some customers, but we feel this is the right decision at this time in the interest of the Safety and comfort of all Customers and Crew onboard.”
Delta Air Lines resumed inflight alcohol beverages sales in April 2021—but made them more expensive— and United Airlines in November 2021. Southwest Airlines resumed alcohol sales on its planes in February 2022. American Airlines was the last American carrier to reimplement this service.

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March 21, 2022