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Sky’s the Limit American Airlines takes it up a notch with new routes, partnerships and amenities. BY SUSAN FINCH AMERICAN AIRLINES IS GEARING UP for a busy year full of expanded services and new updates to everything from its routes to its AAdvantage program and in-flight menu. The airline made headlines when it announced 18 new routes for summer 2019, including seasonal flights to the summertime favorite Glacier National Park. Although most of these Montana-bound flights are from smaller and medium-sized cities operated by partner regional aircraft, American is also adding more seasonal flights to Paris (CDG) and Madrid (MAD) from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. It will add the second daily service to its existing route between American’s hub at DFW to Madrid and Paris on a Boeing 787-9. In March this year, American also kicked off daily service between Charlotte Douglas International and Germany’s
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globaltravelerusa.com
MAY 2019
Munich Airport, as well as flights between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and London Heathrow Airport. Spring also introduced new seasonal service between Philadelphia International Airport and Scotland’s Edinburgh Airport. And in June American will kick off seasonal service from PHL to Berlin-Tegel Airport, Italy’s Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport and Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia. American Airlines also responded to the demand for more flights to Cuba and announced a new daily flight from Miami International to Antonio Maceo Airport (SCU) in Santiago de Cuba starting May 3. With expansion in mind, American Airlines stepped into Durango, Mexico (DGO), as the only U.S. carrier to serve customers between DGO and SCU. The routes will add to an already robust schedule of flights for American between Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America from its Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami (MIA) hubs. But it’s not just new flights and an increase in seasonal activity. American Airlines also announced reductions in flights and routes. The airline will only operate flights between Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Narita International Airport three days a week instead of its usual daily schedule. The airline also suspended its non-stop service from Chicago O’Hare to Shanghai Pudong International Airport as well as Beijing (PEK) at the end of 2018. American will seek permission to fly to Beijing’s new Daxing International Airport, expected to open this year. THIS YEAR BRINGS EXPANDED investments across domestic airports for American Airlines, with a new $215 million maintenance hangar and ground