American Airlines raises the national summer calendar to near-pre-pandemic levels

American Airlines is extending its daylight saving time with the bet that the resurgence of travel demand will continue as more people are vaccinated.

This summer, Americans plan to do more than 90% of the national schedule and 80% of the international schedule that operated during the 2019 high season, adding 150 new routes for the holiday high season. American said its first-quarter capacity fell more than 43% compared to the same period in 2019.

Airlines looking to catch up on the rise in travel weigh on the ability to deploy this summer. Demand has increased as more people have been vaccinated against Covid-19, travel restrictions are easing and more attractions, such as Disneyland, are gearing up to reopen. Airline executives will begin briefing investors on their strategies this week, when Delta begins quarterly reporting on Thursday.

“Throughout the pandemic, our brand has been to build a calendar based on what customers tell us they want and need,” Brian Znotins, U.S. vice president of network planning, said in a press release. . “And today they tell us they really want to travel again.”

With international travel still depressed, Americans plan to use some of their Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft on domestic flights to New York and Los Angeles from downtown Miami. Americans and competitors such as United and Delta have added flights to destinations with outdoor attractions such as beaches and mountains, as travelers look for vacations where they can physically stay away from others.