The Essentials

Why Dozens of Airline Routes Have Been Canceled

Last summer, as travel was coming back, America’s airlines doubled and tripled down on their networks, announcing dozens of new routes. But that’s not the case this year.

 

Rising fuel prices and a continuing pilot shortage have forced the airlines to cancel dozens of routes between smaller U.S. cities. It started late last year when Delta cut 10 routes. Then, American slashed 27 routes and just recently, United cut 17 flights.

 

Most of these cuts will affect service between major U.S. cities and some secondary airports.

 

But if you happen to live in Dayton, Ohio, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Knoxville, Tennessee, Lexington, Kentucky, Madison, Wisconsin and many other communities, you can expect reduced service and much higher fares as we get closer to the summer.