Reduction of American Airlines flights will have small impact on Dane County Airport
American Airlines will cut back flying later this year at many airports, including hubs in Dallas and Chicago, as it attempts to cope with record high fuel prices, but the cutbacks will have little affect on sister airline American Eagle flights at Dane County Regional Airport.
Airport spokesperson Sharyn Wisniewski told The Capital Times today American Eagle will reduce the Chicago schedule from seven to six flights a day when the winter schedule starts Nov. 3, but will keep the Dallas schedule at three flights a day instead of dropping to two a day as it normally has done for the winter, so the number of flights by American Eagle through Madison will stay the same.
"Airport director Bradley Livingston spoke with American Eagle officials and they have a lot of confidence in our market," Wisniewski said. "This is an important market for them."
American, the nation's largest airline, said it will reduce departures at its Chicago O'Hare Airport hub by 28 flights and American Eagle would cut 34 flights, beginning in September.
At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, American will cut 19 departures and Eagle will ground 23 flights.
American said it will cut eight daily departures in St. Louis and five at New York's LaGuardia Airport. American Eagle and AmericanConnection will cut 35 flights in St. Louis and 37 Eagle flights at LaGuardia.
American Eagle's flights from Madison to St. Louis, Dallas and LaGuardia will not change.
"They are keeping the three daily flights to St. Louis, the three daily flights to Dallas and the daily LaGuardia flight," Wisniewski said.
Wisniewski said the virtual no change in American Eagle's Madison flight schedule was great news for Madison.
"We are very pleased with the reassurances from the airline that we are important to them," she said. "But we should also note these are the airline's current plans, and things are always subject to change."
American Eagle will end operations in three state capitals: Albany, N.Y.; Providence, R.I.; and Harrisburg, Pa.; and in San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and Samana, Dominican Republic.
New York Gov. David A. Paterson said the cuts would reduce competition in his state. He asked American "to take into account more than profit when they evaluate routes. For many, these airlines are a critical lifeline to family and business obligations."
Jeffery P. Fegan, the chief executive at DFW Airport, a short distance from the American's headquarters, said he didn't like the flight reductions but understands the airline's predicament.
"Everyone understands the challenges of high fuel prices right now, whether you're filling up your car or an airline is fueling up its aircraft," he said.
American announced last month it will cut domestic capacity 11 percent to 12 percent, and Eagle will cut capacity 10 percent to 11 percent, compared with levels of late 2007. The company is trying to reduce costs in the face of fuel prices that have nearly doubled in the past year, surpassing labor as American's biggest expense.
Chairman and Chief Executive Gerard Arpey said last month that American will probably eliminate thousands of jobs as a result of fewer flights, but the company has not yet disclosed a precise figure.
A spokesman said Wednesday that job effects might not be known for some time. The company repeated Wednesday that it intends to offer voluntary-departure programs to reduce layoffs.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
M. Spencer Green/Associated Press
American Airlines will cut back flying later this year at many airports, including hubs in Dallas and Chicago, as it attempts to cope with record high fuel prices.
