American Airlines is dropping its Baltimore-Phoenix route
American Airlinesis shrinking its Baltimore network next year, ending flights to Phoenix and further solidifying Washington's Reagan National Airport as the carrier's main D.C.-area gateway.
The Oneworld Alliance carrier will end its two daily flights between Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) on April 6, according to Cirium schedule data and confirmed by American. The airline operates Airbus A320-family aircraft on the route.
American spokeswoman Andrea Koos said the move was part of a constant evaluation of supply and demand trends on every route.
Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more airline news!
The move leaves Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) as the only airport in the Washington-region that American serves from its Phoenix hub, schedules show.
American has shown a preference to fly to its Washington National hub over the D.C.-area's other airports in recent years. The carrier ended service between Miami (MIA) and Washington Dulles (IAD) last December, saying the route was underperforming.
At BWI, American is still scheduled to grow capacity next summer, even with the end of the Phoenix flights. The airline is due to fly 10% more seats from BWI in June compared to this June barring a further delay to the Boeing 737 MAX return-to-service, Cirium data shows. Seats will also increase at Dulles and National airports.
Overall, American plans to grow system capacity by roughly 5% year-over-year in 2020. The accelerated pace, which is roughly double its annual target of matching U.S. economic growth, comes from the scheduled return of the MAX as well as the airline making up for lost ground on the hub-growth plan it kicked off this year. That plan included boosting its Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) hub to up to 900 daily flights, and is due to focus on Charlotte (CLT) in 2020 and Washington National in 2021.
Related: American plans to come back strong after MAX grounding with aggressive growth
For Baltimore, Southwest Airlines will still provide travelers with a nonstop option to Phoenix after American exits the market.
American predecessors US Airways, which merged with American in 2013, and America West Airlines have flown the Baltimore-Phoenix route since at least 2000.
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app