LONDON- According to reports, Major US Airlines such as American Airlines (AA), Delta Air Lines (DL), and United Airlines (UA) have made some cuts to their daily flights to London Heathrow (LHR), UK.
These changes are made according to the upcoming summer season and not for the winter 2024-25 season.
US Airlines London Flights
United Airlines will decrease its London-Los Angeles (LAX) service from twice daily to once daily.
The carrier will also reduce its London-Washington DC (IAD) flights from three to two per day, eliminating the daytime flight option, Ishrion Aviation reported.
While American Airlines has scaled back its LHR-LAX and LHR-Chicago (ORD) routes by one daily flight each.
Further, Delta Air Lines also completely cut its LHR-LAX service and reduced frequencies on its LHR-Salt Lake City (SLC) and LHR-Detroit (DTW) routes.
Industry experts speculate about the fate of the newly available slots at Heathrow. Delta and American, with joint venture partners Virgin Atlantic (VS) and British Airways (BA) respectively, may redistribute slots within their alliances.
United’s strategy remains unclear, but past practices suggest potential seasonal leases to other carriers or slot transfers to European partners.
The flight reductions indicate a possible market saturation for U.S.-London routes. Airlines appear to be diversifying their European offerings, moving away from using LHR as a primary transfer hub for codeshare partners.
Some travelers express disappointment over the loss of daytime flight options, which allowed for more comfortable travel experiences. The elimination of these flights may impact those who prefer to rest in airport hotels before continuing their journeys.
Heathrow Airport officials maintain that demand for the airport remains high. However, the reduction in frequencies and lack of new airline entries raise questions about this claim.
Critics point to LHR’s comparatively high landing fees and taxes as potential factors deterring airlines from maintaining or expanding service.
Los Angeles-London Market Analysis
The London-Los Angeles air travel market has undergone substantial changes in recent years, James Pearson, airline route and market analyst shared the following data.
In Q3 2023, the route reached a record high of 1,184 departing flights, representing a 28% increase compared to 2019. This surge resulted in an unprecedented average of 13 daily flights, surpassing the previous peak of 11.
Despite the increased flight frequency, the introduction of smaller twin-engine aircraft led to a reduction in seats per flight. This capacity expansion outpaced demand growth, causing yields to decline and overall performance to suffer.
Airlines have responded to these market conditions with strategic adjustments. Delta Air Lines ceased operations on the Los Angeles-Heathrow route in May 2024. American Airlines has reduced its frequency from three daily flights to two for the Summer 2025 season. United Airlines has recently announced a 50% cut in its flights on this route.
In contrast, Norse Atlantic Airways entered the market in June 2023, launching a summer seasonal service between London Gatwick and Los Angeles.
Before the latest schedule updates, Q3 2025 was projected to have 973 one-way flights, a 5% increase from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. However, following United’s reduction, the expected number has decreased to 881, now 5% below 2019 figures.
The revised Q3 2025 schedule for the London-Los Angeles service is as follows:
- American Airlines: Two daily flights
- British Airways: Three daily flights
- Norse Atlantic Airways (from Gatwick): Up to six weekly flights
- United Airlines: One daily flight
- Virgin Atlantic: Three daily flights
British Airways Engine Trouble
Well, British Airways, the largest operator of London Heathrow is also facing challenges with its fleet lately. The airline plans to cancel long-haul flights operated by Boeing 787 powered by RR engines due to delays from engine manufacturers in getting new engines and parts.
The airline has delayed the introduction of its new London Heathrow (LHR) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) route and suspended daily services between London Gatwick (LGW) and New York (JFK), as well as between London Heathrow and Doha (DOH).
BA employs Boeing 777 aircraft from its standby fleet to reduce cancellations. However, this strategy introduces new complications. These older planes require more frequent routine maintenance and increased downtime, as reported by Bloomberg.
The engine issues affecting British Airways stem from broader industry-wide problems. Rolls-Royce, the engine manufacturer, confirms that the situation extends beyond a single airline. The company cites ongoing supply chain constraints as a major factor impacting the aviation sector.
Rolls-Royce states it actively collaborates with all its customers to minimize disruptions caused by limited spare part availability.
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