United Airlines, Continental cut Mexico flights due to low demand

Several major airlines based in the United States have temporarily stopped flying to Mexico because of poor demand for flights to Mexico, which has been hit by an outbreak of swine flu. The new strain of influenza, originally called swine flu, is now called A (H1N1).

US Airways said that it would reduce 38% of its scheduled flights to 12 cities in Mexico between May 10, 2009, and July 1, 2009.

Continental Airlines said it would cut flight departures by about 40% as well as halve its capacity on flights.

Reductions in flights to Mexico by Continental Airlines and United Airlines will come into effect on May 4, 2009.

United Airlines, based in Chicago, the United States, said in a statement that it planned to reduce its weekly roundtrip flights between the United States and Mexico to 24 from 61 in May 2009, and from 90 to 52 in June 2009.

United Airlines’ once-daily service from Chicago to Cancun in Mexico will continue through May 2009, but the airline said was suspending its once-a-week flights from O’Hara International Airport in Chicago to Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos.

In June 2009, United Airlines will halt its once-daily flight from Chicago to Mexico City.

United Airlines said in the statement that it was notifying its customers and travel agencies of the changes to its schedule and would waive fees through May 31, 2009, for passengers who wish re-book trips on a later date. The airline would also refund tickets for those who choose to cancel their trips.

So far, 176 deaths have been reported from Mexico from the new strain of influenza.

Continental Airlines, based in Houston, Texas, the United States, said in a statement that it offered more seats than any foreign airline to and from Mexico.

Continental Airlines has been operating, on an average, 450 flights a week to Mexico and the reductions would come to around 2% of its system-wide capacity for May 2009, compared to its original schedule.

American Airlines, based in Fort Worth, Texas, the United States, said  that it was “closely watching the situation.”

Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, said it was cancelling some flights and downsizing to smaller aircraft on certain routes to Mexico” later in May 2009 as demand for travel has dropped.