As we enter the month of March, the aviation industry in the United States continues to adapt to the ongoing pandemic and changing travel patterns. While international travel remains largely restricted, domestic travel within the country is slowly picking up. One segment of the domestic travel market that is seeing some interesting developments is the widebody route network operated by U.S. carriers.
In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the domestic widebody routes being operated by airlines in the United States in March.
The State of Domestic Widebody Routes
Historically, domestic widebody routes have been operated by U.S. carriers to serve high-density routes between major cities. However, with the pandemic causing a significant drop in demand for air travel, many airlines have reduced their widebody operations and are instead focusing on more efficient narrowbody aircraft.
Nonetheless, some carriers continue to operate widebody aircraft on select domestic routes, especially those with high demand for premium cabin seats. This includes airlines like Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines operates a fleet of Boeing 767 and Airbus A330 widebody aircraft on select domestic routes. In March, the airline is offering flights on the following routes:
- Atlanta (ATL) to Los Angeles (LAX) and Seattle (SEA) on Boeing 767-300ER aircraft
- New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) on Airbus A330-900neo aircraft
- Detroit (DTW) to Seattle (SEA) on Boeing 767-300ER aircraft
American Airlines
American Airlines operates a fleet of Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft on select domestic routes. In March, the airline is offering flights on the following routes:
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Los Angeles (LAX) on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Miami (MIA) on Boeing 777-200ER aircraft
- Miami (MIA) to Los Angeles (LAX) on Boeing 777-200ER aircraft
United Airlines
United Airlines operates a fleet of Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft on select domestic routes. In March, the airline is offering flights on the following routes:
- Houston (IAH) to Los Angeles (LAX) on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft
- Houston (IAH) to San Francisco (SFO) on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft
- Chicago (ORD) to San Francisco (SFO) on Boeing 777-200ER aircraft
Conclusion
While domestic widebody routes have been scaled back significantly due to the pandemic, some U.S. carriers continue to operate these aircraft on select routes. These flights are primarily focused on offering premium cabin seats to customers traveling between major cities.
As the travel industry continues to recover, it will be interesting to see how the demand for widebody aircraft on domestic routes evolves. However, for now, it seems that narrowbody aircraft will remain the primary focus for most U.S. carriers as they look to optimize their operations in these challenging times.
