American Airlines expands in Philadelphia with new Trenton route ... by bus
American Airlines travelers will have a new option in the Garden State come September when the airline adds Trenton, New Jersey, to its map.
The Oneworld alliance carrier's partner Landline begins thrice-daily "flights" operated by buses between Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) on Sept. 22, an American spokesperson confirmed.
The buses will arrive and depart both Philadelphia and Trenton "airside," or inside security. In other words, travelers departing Trenton will be screened by the Transportation Security Administration there and not in Philadelphia after their bus arrives. That facilitates flight connections for travelers. Checked luggage is transferred automatically as well.
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Members of American Airlines AAdvantage, as well as the loyalty programs of partner airlines, can earn and redeem points on the Landline-operated services.
"By this fall, Landline will feed over 1,500 daily seats into American's Philadelphia hub from five Northeast cities, unlocking seamless global connectivity for hundreds of thousands of travelers each year," Nick Johnson, vice president and head of revenue at Landline, said on LinkedIn on Monday.
With the launch of this service to Trenton, Landline will now serve the following airports from PHL on behalf of American:
- Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) in New Jersey
- Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) in Pennsylvania
- Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) in New Jersey
- Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport (AVP) in Pennsylvania
- Wilmington Airport (ILG) in Delaware
Landline launched in 2019 with the idea that buses could operate "flights" cheaper than planes but with all the same amenities for destinations within easy driving distance of major hub airports. While not a new concept, the company focused on partnering with airlines and offering white-label services for them rather than under its own name.
Sun Country Airlines at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) was the company's first partner, followed by United Airlines at Denver International Airport (DEN) in 2021. American joined the roster in 2022 and Air Canada in 2024.
Related: Finally, like a flight: American improves Landline bus connections via Philadelphia
Tickets for American's new Landline service to Trenton are available on the airline's website. AAdvantage redemptions are available for as little as 6,000 miles one-way Sept. 23, though most customers would likely want to include the Trenton-Philadelphia leg as part of a connecting itinerary to far-flung destinations.
The new Philadelphia-Trenton "flights" will take just 50 minutes, according to American's website. Buses depart Philadelphia at 8:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6:40 p.m., while those leaving from Trenton depart at 6:45 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m.
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