United Airlines will discontinue service to three Mexican destinations, as part of an overall plan to adjust capacity to the country.
The Chicago-based airline will end flights to Huatulco, Mazatlan and Villahermosa, it says in a memo to employees.
"While our Mexico network remains strong, customer demand on certain routes has declined and the flights are no longer financially sustainable," says the airline.
United will end weekly service from Houston Intercontinental to Huatulco from 23 June. On 28 June, it will end daily flights between Houston and Villahermosa. Finally, it will pull service to Mazatlan from both Houston and Chicago O'Hare on 18 August.
The airline's departure from those routes will leave them unserved, FlightGlobal schedules data show.
United will also make adjustments on other Mexican routes. Effective 4 October, it will end flights between Los Angeles and Mexico City, while adding a third daily flight to Newark-Mexico City. Los Angeles-Mexico City is a highly competitive route, with United being one of seven airlines currently offering nonstop service in the market.
At Newark, United is the only airline flying nonstop to Mexico City. But other airlines offer Mexico City service from New York John F Kennedy: Aeromexico, Delta Air Lines, Interjet and Volaris.
Separately, United will end weekly service between Denver and Mexico City from 23 June. Its exit will leave Volaris as the sole carrier on the route, although Aeromexico will offer seasonal service on the route this winter, FlightGlobal schedules data show.
United will also cut a daily frequency from Houston Intercontinental-Mexico City from 20 August, going down to six peak daily roundtrips. It competes against Aeromexico and Interjet on the route, while Southwest Airlines flies from Houston Hobby to Mexico City.
On 4 October, United will end twice daily service between Los Angeles and Leon/Guanajuato. No US airline will serve the route after its departure, leaving Aeromexico, Interjet and Volaris in the market.
United will however launch daily service between Chicago O'Hare and Leon/Guanajuato on 28 October, becoming the only airline to fly on that route. Volaris operates from Chicago Midway to Leon/Guanajuato.
Separately, United will grow capacity on its routes from Houston Intercontinental to Queretaro and San Luis Potosi from 19 December. It will increase Queretaro to four-times-daily service, and upgauge San Luis Potosi flights to 76-seat Embraer 175s from 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145s. It is the only airline operating on the two routes.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
