Foreign airlines cutting flights to Los Angeles International Airport

Foreign carriers, until now a bright spot for the airport in an increasingly dismal year, are slashing flights at LAX amid high fuel costs and slowing international demand, dealing yet another blow to Southern California's economy.

For Southern California passengers, the cuts would add to travel woes including fewer nonstop flights to overseas destinations, higher fares and crowded planes, experts said.

"It's kind of sad," said Bob Covington, a Mid-Wilshire district resident who often flies out of LAX for trips overseas because of his job as an event manager for photo agency Getty Images. "I'm learning to live with less and pay more."

International airlines that seemed more resilient are now either cutting service altogether or cutting flights this fall, much like the steps U.S. carriers have taken to cope with low demand and high fuel costs. Oil prices have fallen in recent weeks but fuel still remains costly for carriers.

Although improvements to the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX are not in jeopardy for now, airport officials are expected to be under pressure to rethink paying for certain amenities or look for ways -- including a hiring freeze -- to cut costs.

The anticipated cuts surprised analysts, economists and airport officials because overseas flights seemed robust and they were seen as a way for LAX to offset the sharp drop in domestic service.

Earlier this year, several foreign-based airlines announced plans to start new service at LAX, including Emirates Airlines' first nonstop flights to Dubai in October, Vietnam Airlines Corp.'s service to Ho Chi Minh City in the same month and V Australia -- part of the Virgin Blue Group -- with flights to Sydney in December.

But high fuel expenses and weakening economies overseas are prompting other carriers to reduce service.

Air India plans to eliminate its six flights a week between LAX and Frankfurt, with connecting flights to New Delhi and Mumbai. In late October, Thai Airways will no longer offer nonstop flights to Bangkok and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said it was suspending one of three daily flights between Hong Kong and LAX.

"We have to maximize our earnings during this difficult period," Tony Tyler, Cathay Pacific's chief executive, said in a statement. He added that the airline was "reshaping" its schedules "where necessary to ensure we fly aircraft to where we can cover our costs and also make some money."