FORT WORTH, Texas - American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, will end service to Worcester Regional Airport effective Sept. 4, 2002.
American Eagle had operated two, daily regional jet flights between Worcester and Chicago, but mounting losses on the route forced the airline to reduce its flight schedule to one daily round-trip earlier this year. After six months the remaining flight also failed to perform to expectations, losing more than $1 million dollars in the past 12 months.
With the airline industry suffering unprecedented losses, American Eagle has left the door open to reinstate Worcester service should market conditions in that area improve.
“We still believe Worcester is promising long term,” said Tom Bacon, American Eagle’s senior vice president - Marketing and Planning. “But given the need to improve our financial performance in the near term, we simply could not continue to lose substantial amounts of money on the route.”
American Eagle also recognized Massachusetts Congressman James P. McGovern, Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry, the Massachusetts Port Authority and the City of Worcester for their hard work and dedication on behalf of the Worcester Regional Airport. The airline will continue to work with all groups and evaluate the possibility of re-entering the Worcester market when the industry’s financial performance improves and there is a reasonable prospect of operating profitably in this market.

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