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Looks like Austin, Texas wasn’t as hot as American Airlines expected.

Over the weekend, the airline announced another major schedule change surrounding service at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).

This time, American is dropping five routes in Austin, as first seen in the Cerium schedule and later confirmed to TPG by a carrier spokesperson. (American is also dropping two other domestic routes — the details of which you’ll find at the bottom of this story.)

The Austin Cut includes year-round service to Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Orlando, as well as seasonal service to Palm Springs and Reno.

The aforementioned flight has now been canceled since October, and affected travelers will either be offered rerouting through American’s hub or given a full refund.

In a statement confirming the move, an airline spokesperson shared that “As part of an ongoing evaluation of our network, American will reduce service to Austin beginning in October. American will continue to provide customers with access to our extensive global network of more than 350 destinations with one-stop connections.” “

With these cuts, American has effectively reversed nearly all of the carrier’s recent growth in the Texas capital.

During the pandemic, American doubled service to Austin. The airline began growth in March 2021 with 10 new routes. Just three months later, the carrier followed up with 14 more new routes there, including a mix of domestic and international destinations to cities in Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

This mix of business- and leisure-oriented routes was part of a long-term game, with large companies moving or expanding there to capitalize on the city’s growth. American wants to position itself as the carrier of choice for locals, whether they travel for work or pleasure.

In addition to the new flights, American also unveiled plans for a new 15,000-square-foot Admirals Club at AUS. The proposed design calls for floor-to-ceiling windows, various seating areas, locally inspired art installations and live music from local artists.

On top of that, some aviation observers even wondered if the airport would eventually become a focus city for American.

And now, a few years later, Austin will look just like any other of the carrier’s outstations.

Late last year, the airline cut 21 routes from Austin. Now, with an additional five cuts, American is left with service from AUS of:

• Aspen
• Boston
• Cancun
• Charlotte
• Chicago
• Dallas/Fort Worth
• Los Angeles
• Los Cabos
• Miami
• Nashville
• New York-JFK
• Orange County
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Raleigh/Durham

Going forward, American Airlines travelers must connect through nearby hubs to get to many of the city’s top destinations. (American says it is increasing capacity on these hub routes and these adjustments are in its latest capacity guidance.)

Alternatively, American’s Austin fliers could wind up with a competitor like Delta Air Lines or Southwest — Austin’s two largest carriers that together offer nonstop service on many of the routes American now flies.

While the biggest network news may be in Austin, American is also cutting two other domestic routes: Raleigh-Durham to Cincinnati and Tampa to Los Angeles. The previous route only started last year, so it’s possible that this flight wasn’t as busy as American had hoped.

American Flagship Jet Launches in Charlotte

Separately, for the first time, American will use its flagship aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER, on regularly scheduled service from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Starting November 5, the airline will connect CLT to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) using a 777-300ER. This winter-season upgauge will run until March 29, 2025.

American’s 777-300ER features an eight-seat flagship first cabin, as well as 52 business-class pods, 28 premium economy recliners, 28 main cabin extra-legroom seats and 188 standard economy seats. The 777-300ER replaces the 777-200ER already operating on this route.

Historically, American has deployed its 777-300ERs on its most premium long-haul routes from Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami and New York.

However, the airline is experimenting with moving around some of its premium capacity. It will be interesting to see if American can fill this 304-seat jet in the winter.

Premium passengers should note that Charlotte does not have a flagship lounge, and American has also announced plans to remove first class from the Boeing 777-300ER and replace it with a larger business-class cabin.

Those are considered retrofit plans, and it is possible that First Class may not be available for purchase during the winter season.

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