Anyone who has looked into flights in recent months will know that airfares are rising. The main driver behind this is the increasing cost of jet fuel prices, which have skyrocketed this year due to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
As the rising ticket prices show, most airlines choose to pass some of the increased jet fuel costs on to their customers. But many airlines across the globe are also choosing to suspend or eliminate less-profitable routes to save on fuel. And now this is exactly what American Airlines is doing with the upcoming elimination of six routes. Here’s what you need to know.
Which routes is American Airlines suspending?
American Airlines will suspend services on six current routes in the near future. Those routes include:
- LAX to Cleveland (CLE)
- LAX to Columbus (CMH)
- LAX to Pittsburgh (PIT)
- LAX to Washington Dulles (IAD)
- CLT to Ontario (ONT)
- CLT to Sacramento (SMF)
The closures were first reported by Ishrion Aviation on X. Travel sites, including SimplyFlying, then reported that data provided by airline schedule-tracking platforms, including Cirium Diio, confirmed the suspension of the routes.
Currently, that data shows that the routes above are being suspended by American Airlines from between Wednesday, August 5, and Monday, October 5. That is a period that generally sees softer flight demand as people wind down their summer holidays and the fall begins, notes LiveandLetsFly.
When reached for comment, an American Airlines spokesperson confirmed the suspensions to Fast Company, but noted they were not permanent.
“American has seasonally adjusted service on select routes in August and September as the airline refines its capacity growth for 2026,” the spokesperson said. “American is not suspending any routes indefinitely as part of this adjustment and will continue to proudly offer an industry-leading network with more flights than any other U.S. airline.”
The spokesperson added that passengers who have already booked tickets on the affected routes will be offered other travel arrangements or a refund.
Fast Company understands that American will continue to evaluate its route network amid ongoing fuel cost increases.
Jet fuel prices surge 80% as AAL stock sees red for 2026
In April, American Airlines cut its fiscal 2026 guidance forecast, in large part due to rising fuel costs. The company said it now expects a $4 billion increase in expenses “related to higher prices for jet fuel.”
And since then, jet fuel prices have surged. As Fast Company reported yesterday, spot prices for jet fuel last Friday were nearly $4 per gallon. That’s an increase of around 80% in just a month.
Given the increased cost for jet fuel and the uncertainty over just how long the Iran conflict will drag on, which has seen the closure of the all-important Strait of Hormuz, it’s no wonder that American Airlines Group Inc. (Nasdaq: AAL) has seen its stock take a beating this year.
Currently, AAL shares are trading around $14.19 at the time of this writing. That’s a 7.4% decline since the year began.
On the plus side, AAL shares have seen significant gains over the past month of nearly 20%. And over the past 12 months, shares are up nearly 25%.