American cancelled 1,175 flights to ease disruptions

Bloomberg

American Airlines Group Inc notified flight crews that it has cancelled 1,175 flights in July and August as part of efforts to build more “buffer” into its schedule and reduce disruptions that have plagued the
industry this summer.
The cuts come after the carrier detailed plans to trim flight capacity as much as 10% this quarter and 9.5% for the year from pre-pandemic levels, joining other major airlines that are revising operations amid staffing shortfalls and high costs. The flight reductions are keeping carriers from taking full advantage of a swell in demand that has pushed fares higher and produced record revenue last quarter.
American brought capacity back at a faster pace than rivals after slashing operations when the pandemic decimated travel demand. It operates an average of 5,400 daily flights. The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier didn’t comment beyond acknowledging the near-term cancellations, which the Allied Pilots Association said affect flights as soon as July 27.
“This is an unusual event that close in,” said Dennis Tajer, a union spokesman. “We’re shocked that this is happening at this late stage” of the busy summer travel season.
The cancellations came two days after August work schedules were finalized, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants told members in a message. Both unions are in contract talks with the carrier.
American has parked 100 aircraft at its wholly owned regional carriers because of a pilot shortage, and cut the equivalent of another 45 jets by decreasing how much it flies some planes at the main airline operations.
Delta Air Lines Inc alerted its pilots in June about flying reductions for July and August, the Air Line Pilots Association said. The Atlanta-based airline has said it will hold operations at its June level for the rest of this year, with third-quarter capacity as much as 17% below 2019.