American Airlines applauds
and supports the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) order requiring it
to reduce its schedule an additional 2.5 percent during the 1 p.m. to 8
p.m. time period at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. American has
been consulting with the FAA on these changes, and believes the service
changes are appropriately designed to enhance the airport’s performance
and to preclude unnecessary flight cancellations and passenger
inconvenience due to over scheduling.
“American Airlines is committed to responsible scheduling at O’Hare and
all other airports where it operates,” said Bob Reding, American’s senior
vice president - Technical Operations. “We worked closely with the staff
of the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation
Administration in a review of O’Hare’s reliability since a 5 percent
reduction in flights during peak hours at O’Hare took place in March.
American agrees that a few more flight changes will only enhance the
airport’s efficiency, particularly as we head into the busy summer travel
season.”

This reduction will be made through a series of small timing changes and
by canceling one round-trip flight from Chicago to Dallas/Fort Worth, one
round-trip flight from Chicago to St. Louis and one round-trip American
Eagle flight from Chicago to Atlanta from June 10 through October 30.
These changes already have been loaded into American’s SABRE reservation
system.

“We appreciate the concern and leadership of Secretary of Transportation
Norman Minetta and FAA Administrator Marion Blakey regarding the issue of
O’Hare Airport’s operational efficiency,” Reding added.
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