News

American Airlines says goodbye to shortest domestic route crown with new flexibility to drop cities

Edward RussellContributor
Edward Russell is a contributor for TPG. An AvGeek at heart, he covered the airline business at FlightGlobal for eight years and previously covered finance in New York and Hong Kong.

May 23, 2020 • 4 min read

The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

American Airlines can say goodbye to the title of operating the shortest domestic route among major U.S. carriers. American, along with 14 other airlines, will be able to suspend flights to 75 cities across the country as the coronavirus pandemic continues to keep most would-be travelers out of the skies.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) handed out the exemptions to air service requirements under the government's coronavirus aid package, known as the CARES Act, late on May 22. While no city will lose air service entirely, the move allows airlines to operate fewer money-losing flights even after accepting federal payroll assistance.

The exemptions allow airlines to suspend flights until Sept. 30. After that, restrictions under the CARES Act expire allowing carriers to cancel routes at will if they choose.

Get Coronavirus travel updates. Stay on top of industry impacts, flight cancellations, and more.

One victim of the new exemptions are many airlines' new tag or triangle routes. These services combine stops in multiple cities on one flight, reducing the cost to airlines at a time when few people are flying.

As a result of this push, American briefly flew a three-stop triangle from its Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) base to Vail (EGE), Aspen (ASE), Montrose (MTJ) and then back to Dallas/Fort Worth. The 29-mile Vail-Aspen leg was the shortest domestic flight among major carriers for several weeks. American can suspend flights to Aspen, Montrose and Vail, as well as Worcester (ORH) in Massachusetts, under the DOT's new exemptions.

Other large carriers receiving exemptions include Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines. Southwest Airlines, notably, did not seek to suspend service to any cities. Hawaiian Airlines has already suspended service to most of its destinations on the U.S. mainland.

Seven smaller airlines, including Cape Air, Silver Airways and Sun Country Airlines, also received exemptions from the regulator.

The news comes even as airlines are seeing a small uptick in the number of travelers. Airline executives have reported small but notable increases in leisure bookings and passengers since the beginning of May. Carriers have added back a few flights, with United planning to fly a quarter of its schedule in July compared to just 10% in May and June.

Keeping with the trend, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported its single busiest day since the pandemic began on May 22, the Friday before Memorial Day. The agency screened 348,673 people, or just 12% of the number a year ago.

Here is a full list of the DOT's exemptions to large airlines:

Alaska

Charleston, South Carolina (CHS)
Columbus (CMH)
El Paso (ELP)
New Orleans (MSY)
San Antonio (SAT)

Allegiant

New Orleans
Ogdensburg, New York (OGS)
Palm Springs (PSP)
San Antonio
Springfield, Illinois (SPI)
Tucson (TUS)

American

Aspen
Montrose
Vail
Worcester

Delta

Aspen
Bangor (BGR)
Erie, Pennsylvania (ERI)
Flint, Michigan (FNT)
Fort Smith, Arkansas (FSM)
Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK)
New Bern, North Carolina (EWN)
Peoria, Illinois (PIA)
Santa Barbara (SBA)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (AVP)
Williston, North Dakota (XWA)

Frontier

Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP)
Mobile, Alabama (MOB)
Palm Springs
Portland, Maine (PWM)
Tyler, Texas (TYR)

JetBlue

Albuquerque (ABQ)
Palm Springs
Sacramento (SMF)
Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ)
Worcester

Spirit

Asheville (AVL)
Greensboro (GSO)
Plattsburgh, New York (PBG)
St. Crois (STX)
St. Thomas (STT)

United

Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton (ABE)
Chattanooga, Tennessee (CHA)
Fairbanks (FAI)
Hilton Head, South Carolina (HHH)
Ithaca (ITH)
Kalamazoo, Michigan (AZO)
Key West (EYW)
Lansing, Michigan (LAN)
Myrtle Beach (MYR)
Rochester, Minnesota (RST)
St. Thomas (STT)

Great offers from our partners

See current offers Find your best card with CardMatch™

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

TPG editor's rating

Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

The exemptions allow airlines to suspend flights until Sept. 30. After that, restrictions under the CARES Act expire allowing carriers to cancel routes at will if they choose.

Get Coronavirus travel updates. Stay on top of industry impacts, flight cancellations, and more.

Seven smaller airlines, including Cape Air, Silver Airways and Sun Country Airlines, also received exemptions from the regulator.

Here is a full list of the DOT's exemptions to large airlines:

Alaska

Charleston, South Carolina (CHS)
Columbus (CMH)
El Paso (ELP)
New Orleans (MSY)
San Antonio (SAT)

Allegiant

New Orleans
Ogdensburg, New York (OGS)
Palm Springs (PSP)
San Antonio
Springfield, Illinois (SPI)
Tucson (TUS)

American

Aspen
Montrose
Vail
Worcester

Delta

Aspen
Bangor (BGR)
Erie, Pennsylvania (ERI)
Flint, Michigan (FNT)
Fort Smith, Arkansas (FSM)
Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK)
New Bern, North Carolina (EWN)
Peoria, Illinois (PIA)
Santa Barbara (SBA)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (AVP)
Williston, North Dakota (XWA)

Frontier

Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP)
Mobile, Alabama (MOB)
Palm Springs
Portland, Maine (PWM)
Tyler, Texas (TYR)

JetBlue

Albuquerque (ABQ)
Palm Springs
Sacramento (SMF)
Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ)
Worcester

Spirit

Asheville (AVL)
Greensboro (GSO)
Plattsburgh, New York (PBG)
St. Crois (STX)
St. Thomas (STT)

United

Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton (ABE)
Chattanooga, Tennessee (CHA)
Fairbanks (FAI)
Hilton Head, South Carolina (HHH)
Ithaca (ITH)
Kalamazoo, Michigan (AZO)
Key West (EYW)
Lansing, Michigan (LAN)
Myrtle Beach (MYR)
Rochester, Minnesota (RST)
St. Thomas (STT)

Comments

By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Comments

Comments

Related stories

British Airways ‘balances’ US growth as competitors add slew of new routes

United adds new easternmost city in Canada in 6-route expansion with partner Air Canada

Delta Air Lines adds Iceland nonstops from Boston hub

Phoenix gains new European route as Lufthansa plans Munich service for 2027

TPG featured card

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

Comments

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Annual fee

Regular APR

Recommended credit

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Annual fee

Regular APR

Recommended credit

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Annual fee