American adds cool new Caribbean destination, cuts Miami transcon route in big network update
American Airlines just made several noteworthy changes to its route map.
The Fort Worth-based carrier is adding one all-new international destination, as well as two new flights from New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA). American will also cut a splashy transcontinental route from Miami and trim long-haul service to London this winter.
The changes were first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.
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You'll find all of the details on American's changes below, all of which are now reflected in the carrier's online schedule.
American adds service to South Caicos, Turks and Caicos
The biggest news is that American is adding an all-new pin to its route map: South Caicos Airport, Turks and Caicos (XSC).
This new flight will launch on Feb. 15, 2025, and will operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays from American's Caribbean hub in Miami International Airport (MIA).
The airline will deploy a 76-seat Embraer 175 regional jet on the new 628-mile service.
Flights will depart Miami at 10:05 a.m. and arrive in South Caicos at 12:27 p.m. The return flight will depart at 1:44 p.m. and arrive back in Miami at 3:55 p.m.
Miami is already American's gateway to Latin America, and with this new flight, travelers from more than 75 destinations across the U.S. and Canada will have access to an all-new destination previously unserved by a U.S. airline.
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"American has flown to Turks and Caicos for more than 30 years and we are thrilled to announce the only nonstop service from the U.S. to South Caicos starting next February. Customers from across North America will now have faster and more convenient access to this idyllic island and all that it offers," said Jason Reisinger, American's managing director of global network planning, in a statement.
Until now, U.S.-based travelers headed to the Turks and Caicos have generally flown into Providenciales International Airport (PLS), in the island's capital and primary international gateway.
However, the South Caicos area boasts some popular resorts (like the Sailrock Resort) and will also be home to a new Marriott Luxury Collection property opening next year.
The Salterra Turks & Caicos opens on Feb. 15 and will undoubtedly be popular with Bonvoy loyalists, especially now there will be a new nonstop flight to get there.
American adds two more LaGuardia routes
Last month, American added a slew of new routes from its New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) hub, and now the carrier is back with two more Florida routes for the winter season.
The airline will launch flights from LaGuardia to Fort Myers and Tampa beginning on Nov. 5.
These winter seasonal services will operate through May 4, 2025. Tampa service will operate twice daily, while flights to Fort Myers will operate once a day.
American told TPG that these routes are designed to "provide our customers additional access to warm-weather destinations."
To add flights at the capacity-constrained LGA, American needs slots, or takeoff and landing permissions, to support each flight. Airlines can't just pick up these slots on an ad hoc basis, so it's typically a zero-sum game when carriers add flights at slot-restricted airports like LaGuardia.
So, where is American getting the slots? Turns out, the carrier is mostly using existing slots in its inventory that it originally lent to JetBlue as part of the Northeast Alliance. (The airline is also cutting once-daily winter service from LaGuardia to Grand Rapids, Michigan.)
However, because the partnership was deemed anti-competitive by a federal judge last year, JetBlue needed to return American's slots as part of the wind-down process.
Slots are typically use-it-or-lose-it, so if American didn't add new routes, it could lose access to these lucrative slots.
While American could "slot squat" by adding short and relatively inexpensive-to-operate regional flights (like service from LGA to Hartford), the carrier seems to think it can profit from some of these popular winter destinations.
In June, American added winter seasonal flights from LaGuardia to New Orleans and the Florida cities of Orlando, Sarasota and West Palm Beach.
American cuts transcon route from Miami
Earlier this year, American debuted a new transcontinental route from Miami to Orange County, California.
Flights began on Jan. 8, and now they're ending — just eight months later — on Aug. 5.
"As part of an evaluation of our capacity growth plans for 2024, American has made the difficult decision to discontinue service between Miami (MIA) and Orange County (SNA)," American told TPG in a statement.
This 2,310-mile route launched as American was busy boosting its operation in Miami, where it has faced increased pressure from rivals like Delta and Spirit — both of whom have added new Miami routes and destinations in recent months.
In fact, it was the third new American transcontinental route from Miami. American added flights to Portland, Oregon, on Nov. 5, 2023, followed by service to Sacramento, which took off on Dec. 20, 2023.
American will continue to serve both of these transcon routes. However, Orange County service doesn't seem to have perform as planned. South Florida-based flyers headed to Orange County can now either fly nonstop to Los Angeles and drive or connect in one of American's hubs across the country.
Beach, please: American adds new routes, flights in biggest-ever Caribbean boost
American trims London service
American also made some changes to its long-haul network this weekend with a focus on its Heathrow Airport (LHR) operations.
The carrier will suspend flights between Phoenix and London this winter and scrap one of its three daily flights from Los Angeles to London.
Both of these changes will take effect on Oct. 27.
London is American's key European gateway for connections via partner British Airways' hub there, but these reductions aren't too drastic given that BA will continue to offer daily service between PHX and LHR as part of the transatlantic joint venture partnership.
American splits revenue with British Airways on its transatlantic routes, and it likely made the decision to reduce London service from L.A. and Phoenix in coordination with its partner across the pond.
"As part of the continuous evaluation of our network, American Airlines will adjust service from London (LHR). Together with our partner British Airways, we will continue to operate service from more than 25 destinations across the United States to LHR," American told TPG.
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