American Airlines has just made some significant changes to its route map.
The Fort Worth-based carrier is adding a 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 this winter and trim long-haul service to London.
The changes were first spotted in the Cirium schedule and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.
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Below you’ll find all the details of American’s changes, 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 a new pin to its route map: South Caicos, Turks and Caicos (XSC).
The new flight will begin on February 15, 2025 and will operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays from American’s Caribbean hub at Miami International Airport (MIA).
The airline will deploy 76-seat Embraer 175 regional jets on the new 628-mile service.
Flights will depart Miami at 10:05 AM and arrive in South Caicos at 12:27 PM, with the return flight departing at 1:44 PM and arriving back in Miami at 3:55 PM.
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Miami is already American’s gateway to Latin America, and with this new flight, the U.S. And travelers to more than 75 destinations in Canada will have access to all new destinations previously unserved by a US airline.
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“American has been flying to the Turks and Caicos for more than 30 years and we are thrilled to announce the only nonstop service from the US to South Caicos beginning next February. Customers from all over North America will now have faster and more convenient access to this beautiful island. access and all that it offers,” said Jason Reisinger, American managing director of global network planning, in a statement.
Until now, US-based travelers heading to the Turks and Caicos typically flew into Providenciales International Airport (PLS), the island’s capital and primary international gateway.
However, the South Caicos area has some popular resorts (such as Sailrock Resort) and will also be a new home. A Marriott Luxury Collection property Will open next year.
This Salterra Turks & Caicos Opens on Feb. 15 and will no doubt be popular with Bonvoy loyalists, especially now that there will be a new nonstop flight to get there.
American adds two more LaGuardia routes
Last month, the American It has added several 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 begin flights from LaGuardia to Fort Myers and Tampa on November 5.
These winter-season services will operate till May 4, 2025. Tampa service will operate twice daily, while flights to Fort Myers will operate once daily.
American told TPG that the routes are “designed to provide our customers with additional access to warm weather destinations.
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To add flights on capacity-related LGAs, American needs slots or takeoff and landing permits to support each flight. Airlines can’t choose these slots on an ad-hoc basis, so it’s usually a zero-sum game when carriers add flights to slot-restricted airports like LaGuardia.
So, where does the American get a slot? Turns out, the carrier is mostly using existing slots in its inventory that it originally gave to JetBlue as part of the Northeast Alliance. (The airline is also cutting once-daily winter service from LaGuardia to Grand Rapids, Michigan.)
However, after the partnership was deemed anti-competitive by a federal judge last year, JetBlue was required to return American’s slots as part of the wind-down process.
The slots are usually use-it-or-lose-it, so if American doesn’t add new routes, it could lose access to these lucrative slots.
While American could “slot-squat” by adding shorter and relatively cheaper-to-operate regional flights (such as service from LGA to Hartford), the carrier feels it can profit from some popular winter destinations.
In June, American added winter-season flights from LaGuardia to New Orleans and the Florida cities of Orlando, Sarasota and West Palm Beach.
American cuts the Transcon route from Miami
Earlier this year, American A A new transcontinental route from Miami to Orange County, California.
The flights began on January 8, and are now ending — just eight months later — in August.
“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 said in a statement to TPG.
The 2,310-mile route was launched as American was busy expanding its operations in Miami, where it faces increasing pressure from rivals such as Delta and Spirit — both of which have added new Miami routes and destinations in recent months.
In fact, it was the third of the new American transcontinental routes from Miami. American added flights to Portland, Oregon on November 5, 2023, followed by service to Sacramento, departing on December 20, 2023.
American will continue to serve both of these Transcon routes. However, the Orange County service doesn’t seem to be working as planned. South Florida-based fliers headed to Orange County can now fly nonstop to Los Angeles and drive or connect at one of American’s hubs across the country.
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American Trim London Service
American also made some changes to its long-haul network this weekend, focusing on its Heathrow Airport (LHR) operations.
The carrier will suspend flights between Phoenix and London this winter and scrap the daily frequency from Los Angeles to London. (American will fly two daily flights between LA and London instead of three.)
Both these changes will come into effect from October 27.
London is American’s main European gateway for connections through partner British Airways’ hub there, but the reduction is not 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 decided to cut London service from LA and Phoenix, possibly in coordination with its partner across the pond.
“As part of an ongoing evaluation of our network, American Airlines will adjust service from London (LHR). Together with our partner British Airways, we will continue to operate service to LHR from more than 25 destinations across the United States,” American said. TPG.
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