(By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer) – American Airlines is dropping flights to 15 U.S. cities in October, when a federal requirement to serve those communities expires. American said its schedule covering Oct. 7th through Nov. 3rd will drop flights to cities including Sioux City, Iowa; New Haven, Connecticut; and Springfield, Illinois.

American said Thursday (today) that it will consider other changes unless the federal government provides more money to the embattled airline industry. The decision appears designed to put pressure on Congress and the Trump administration to approve another $25 billion in relief for passenger airlines, which have seen traffic plummet during the coronavirus pandemic. American has already received $5.8 billion and has applied for an additional federal loan of $4.9 billion.