American Airlines made a bet on South America for 2021. Civil unrest and spiking COVID-19 cases are now threatening its success in the region.
tpallini@businessinsider.com (Thomas Pallini)
American Airlines is facing numerous setbacks in South America.
Rising COVID-19 cases in Chile, Brazil, and Peru forced the airline to cut flights in April.
Civil unrest and protests in Colombia are now further threatening success in the region.
American Airlines' expansion strategy in South America is experiencing a seemingly never-ending stream of hurdles.
Tourism-dependent Latin America was among the first regions to welcome US tourists during the coronavirus pandemic, and American was standing ready to fly eager travelers. Earlier in the year, the airline had announced new flights to cities in Chile, Colombia, and Brazil in a bid to attract leisure flyers as it waited for business travel to recover.