American Airlines has made this announcement:

To recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month, American Airlines, its team members and its customers will “go pink” this October to raise awareness and critical funds for long-time partner Susan G. Komen^®.

“Breast cancer is a personal and all too real battle for thousands of our team members and tens of thousands of our customers,” said Chris Singley, Managing Director of Community Relations & Employee Engagement for American. “It’s a disease that has touched us all in one way or another and we stand with Susan G. Komen to raise funds, build awareness and take action in the nonstop fight against breast cancer.”

Every dollar raised by American and its customers goes to support the Susan G. Komen Young Investigators Grant Program. Through this grant program, researchers are discovering breakthroughs for the most aggressive and deadly breast cancers, including triple negative breast cancer and all forms of the disease that have advanced to stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, meaning they have spread to other parts of the body.

“When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I compared myself to other cancer fighters. But I learned your cancer belongs to you and no one else,” said Felecia Ingram, a Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT)-based Flight Attendant and 2018 American Airlines Be Pink campaign participant. “Each day you live, fight! Each day you are able to fight, live!”

American is raising awareness and funds for Susan G. Komen in several ways:

• AAdvantage^® customers can receive 20 AAdvantage miles for every $1 donated to Susan G. Komen with a minimum donation of $25 from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31.
• Team members who are survivors of breast cancer will be prominently featured on aa.com, on our flight and gate information display screens, in our Admirals Clubs and more at airports around the world.
• Pink will play a prominent role in flight. Customers will notice that everything from beverage napkins to the inflight menu, amenity kits, Wi-Fi portal and more have gone pink for the month of October.
• For the first time ever, customers can donate directly to Komen while in flight.
• Team members around the world are purchasing and wearing American-branded pink items with 30 percent of the proceeds from every sale benefiting the organization.

Additionally, throughout the month of October, you’ll learn more about 10 American team members from around the world who have fought or are still fighting breast cancer. Their stories will be featured on aa.com, American’s social media platforms, in Komen’s inflight public service announcement and more. They are: Tamara Bramnik, Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)-based Flight Attendant; Laura Crossley, Customer Service Coordinator, Indianapolis; Patricia Bustamante, Lima, Peru-based Flight Attendant; Julie Daudelin, Chicago (ORD)-based First Officer; Felecia Ingram, CLT-based Flight Attendant; Patrizia Maggi, Passenger Sales Assistant in Rome, Italy; Myrtle Norman, Aviation Maintenance Technician in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Claudia Nouer, Reservations Representative in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Rita Perez, ORD-based Flight Attendant; and Winnie Su, DFW-based Flight Attendant.

“It makes me incredibly proud that American supports the fight against cancer of all types, but I especially love seeing everyone wear pink during October,” said Crossley, a two-time breast cancer survivor. “It reminds me that breast cancer awareness is important to my fellow team members. During this month, we all come together to raise funds, share stories and more importantly, celebrate our victories.”

American’s partnership with Susan G. Komen dates back to their very first race in 1983 when the airline became the organization’s first corporate sponsor. In the time since the partnership began, American has helped raise more than $36 million for the organization.

Zoës Kitchen and American Airlines have teamed up to introduce a new food-for-sale menu for customers seated in Main Cabin that will offer delicious, light and healthy choices onboard.

The new menu, designed in collaboration with Zoës head chef and Vice President of Culinary Innovation Antonio Iocchi, includes items unique to American as well as signature dishes found in Zoës restaurants, such as its signature hummus and The Grüben sandwich. The new items will be available for purchase on most domestic flights longer than three hours beginning December 1, 2018.

The new items launching December 1 include:

• Breakfast Sandwich: Turkey bacon, egg slices and tomato topped with baby arugula on a waffle brioche bun with Calabrian pepper aioli
• Continental Breakfast Box: Belgian waffle, hazelnut spread and fresh berries
• The Grüben: Zoës signature sandwich with sliced turkey, Manchego cheese, crunchy Mediterranean slaw and feta spread layered on marble wheat bread, served with a Zoës chocolate chip cookie
• Chicken Wrap: Grilled chicken wrap with mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, arugula and artichokes, served with a Zoës chocolate chip cookie
• Hummus Duo: Zoës signature hummus duo, including their classic flavor topped with Kalamata olives and basil pesto hummus, served with pita bread, cucumber and carrot

 

Along with the new Zoës options, American will continue to offer its signature fruit and cheese plate and breakfast platter. Throughout 2019, American and Zoës will continue to collaborate and introduce additional items in Main Cabin as well as domestic first class service.

American Airlines issued this statement:

OAG, the global authority on air service information, today named the American Airlines hub at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) the best-connected U.S. airport and a leading international hub — second only to London Heathrow (LHR) — in its 2018 Megahubs U.S. Index.

American has played a large role in increasing connectivity and offering travelers more options, offering more seats out of ORD this summer than at any other time in the last 10 years. This year, American has or will launch service to 18 new destinations, including top international cities Venice, Italy (VCE), and Vancouver, British Columbia (YVR), and popular domestic cities like Charleston, South Carolina (CHS), and Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL).

To celebrate, American is announcing four new destinations to Florida in time for spring break 2019.

• From February 16 to September 5, 2019 American will operate Saturday service to Key West (EYW) using Embraer E175 aircraft.
• From March 9 to September 5, 2019 American will operate Saturday service to Panama City Beach (ECP) on Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft and Pensacola (PNS) and Destin-Fort Walton Beach (VPS) on Embraer E175 aircraft.

Last month, American announced that beginning May 3, 2019, it will launch ORD’s first-ever service to Athens, Greece (ATH) operated on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The announcement of the new Florida routes and ATH service, brings American to 23 new destinations served out of ORD in 2018 and thus far in 2019 further increasing ORD’s connectivity.

The OAG report also noted that American’s hubs at Charlotte International Airport (CLT) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) placed third and fourth respectively among U.S. airports.

Photo: American Airlines.

Tropical Storm Florence information:

Thanks to the hard work of the American Airlines team – both before and after Tropical Storm Florence arrived – operations have resumed at all but four airports in North Carolina. Throughout the region the team was focused on ensuring the best possible care of our customers and team members, along with ground handling equipment and aircraft, in order to resume operations as expeditiously as possible. The remaining four airports are expected to resume operations in the coming days pending airport conditions and runway inspections.

Additionally, thanks to the generosity of our customers and team members, AAdvantage® members have raised more than $175,000 for the American Red Cross. Monetary donations are the best way to assist those in need at this time, which will help provide shelter, food, relief supplies and health services through trained Red Cross personnel who are on the ground in disaster areas. From now through Sept. 21, AAdvantage® members can earn 10 miles for every dollar donated to the Red Cross with a minimum $25 donation. Visit the Red Cross website to donate now.

Travel Alert

The current travel alert allows customers whose travel plans are impacted by this storm to rebook without change fees. Customers can reschedule their travel on aa.com by retrieving their reservation, or by contacting American reservations at +1-800-433-7300 in the U.S. or Canada. If a customer chooses not to fly to/from an airport covered by the current waiver, American will waive change fees for future travel. Customers are also encouraged to check the status of their flight on aa.com.

Before the storm arrived, American waived fees for bags and in-cabin pets, and added reduced, last-minute fares for flights departing from certain airports that were forecast to be directly impacted by Florence.

Refunds

If an American flight has been canceled or excessively delayed, customers may cancel their itinerary and request a refund by visiting our website. Customers who booked through a travel agent should contact their travel agency directly.

Airport Operations

Resumption of service at airports will be based on airport and roadway conditions, including the ability of our team members to get to work. We are also coordinating closely with our partners at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and local airport authorities. These agencies must conduct their own assessment of their operations prior to any airline resuming service.

North Carolina Airports

• Greenville, North Carolina (PGV)
  • Plan to resume operations Sept. 20
• Jacksonville, North Carolina (OAJ)
  • Plan to resume operations Sept. 19
• New Bern, North Carolina (EWN)
  • Plan to resume operations Sept. 18
• Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM)
  • Plan to resume operations Sept. 18

American Airlines updated its operations on the East Coast due to slow-moving Hurricane Florence:

Hurricane Florence Information:

American Airlines is closely monitoring Hurricane Florence, which is impacting several communities we serve this week. Our thoughts are with those who are in the path of this potentially damaging hurricane. We are in regular communication with our national partner, the American Red Cross, which has the unique ability to activate immediately and assess critical needs following disaster. We stand ready to activate our disaster response fundraising platform soon, where our customers and team members can assist those in need.

Due to the storm, a number of airports are now closed along the North Carolina/South Carolina coast. Our team of meteorologists at the American Airlines Integrated Operations Center (IOC) in Fort Worth, Texas, continues to closely monitor the track of this storm.

Travel Alert

The current travel alert allows customers whose travel plans are impacted by Hurricane Florence to rebook without change fees. American is also waiving fees for bags and in-cabin pets for flights departing from certain airports that will be directly impacted by Hurricane Florence. Customers can reschedule their travel on aa.com by retrieving their reservation, or by contacting American reservations at +1-800-433-7300 in the U.S. or Canada. If a customer chooses not to fly to/from an airport covered by the current waiver, American will waive change fees for future travel. Customers are also encouraged to check the status of their flight on aa.com.

Refunds

If an American flight has been canceled or excessively delayed, customers may cancel their itinerary and request a refund by visiting our website. Customers who booked through a travel agent should contact their travel agency directly.

Fares

In order to assist customers who choose to evacuate via air, American has added reduced, last-minute fares for cities that will be impacted by Hurricane Florence. These fares are available on aa.com.

Supporting the Red Cross

American has partnered with the Red Cross for many years and is part of a select group of leading corporations that provide the highest level of support to preparedness and relief efforts. For the last week the Red Cross has been working to prepare areas that may be impacted. As Hurricane Florence begins to unfold, the Red Cross is prepared to assist up to 100,000 people in the affected areas. The Red Cross has the infrastructure in place and relationships with local governments to activate immediately and assess critical needs during times of disaster while providing approved relief items.

Airport operations

Resumption of service at airports will be based on airport and roadway conditions, including the ability of our team members to get to work. We are also coordinating closely with our partners at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and local airport authorities. These agencies must conduct their own assessment of their operations prior to any airline resuming service.

Georgia airports

• Augusta, Georgia (AGS)
  • No impact to operations at this time
• Savannah, Georgia (SAV)
  • No impact to operations at this time

North Carolina airports

• Asheville, North Carolina (AVL)
  • No impact to operations at this time
• Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT)
  • No impact to operations at this time
• Fayetteville, North Carolina (FAY)
  • Operations canceled beginning this evening through Sept. 15
• Greensboro / High Point, North Carolina (GSO)
  • No impact to operations at this time
• Greenville, North Carolina (PGV)
  • Operations canceled through Sept. 15
• Jacksonville, North Carolina (OAJ)
  • Operations canceled through Sept. 15
• New Bern, North Carolina (EWN)
  • Operations canceled through Sept. 15
• Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina (RDU)
  • Scattered cancelations are expected through Sept. 14
• Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM)
  • Operations canceled beginning this evening through Sept. 15

South Carolina airports

• Charleston, South Carolina (CHS)
  • Operations canceled beginning this evening through Sept. 14.
• Columbia, South Carolina (CAE)
  • Operations canceled beginning the evening of Sept. 13 through Sept. 15
• Florence, South Carolina (FLO)
  • Operations canceled beginning this evening through Sept. 15
• Greenville / Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP)
  • No impact to operations at this time
• Hilton Head, South Carolina (HHH)
  • No impact to operations at this time
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR)
  • Operations canceled beginning this evening through Sept. 15

Virginia airports

• Charlottesville, Virginia (CHO)
  • No impact to operations at this time
• Hampton / Newport News, Virginia (PHF)
  • Operations canceled beginning the evening of Sept. 13 through Sept. 14
• Lynchburg, Virginia (LYH)
  • No impact to operations at this time
• Norfolk, Virginia (ORF)
  • No impact to operations at this time
• Richmond, Virginia (RIC)
  • No impact to operations at this time
• Roanoke, Virginia (ROA)
  • No impact to operations at this time

Flight cancellations

• Sept. 12: 80 flights canceled
• Sept. 13: 200 flights canceled
• Sept. 14: 185 flights canceled
• Sept. 15: 90 flights canceled
• Sept. 16: 10 flights canceled