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12/18/2025

American Airlines sets the stage for summer with 15 new routes

  • American will add 15 new routes in 2026, connecting more of the United States with the airline’s global network.
  • Already serving more airports in the U.S. than any other airline, American will strengthen domestic connectivity with the launch of flights to Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK).
  • American is committed to delivering competitive travel options for customers across the country, including at its Chicago (ORD) hub, where the airline will offer more than 500 daily departures next summer.

FORT WORTH, Texas — While the holiday season is underway, American Airlines is looking ahead to next summer with 15 new routes for those looking to gift the perfect trip next year. American’s network already provides more one-stop connections than any other airline. Now, travelers will have more reasons to fly American when traveling across the country and the world next summer.

“American is proud to offer unmatched connectivity across the United States. Today, we’re furthering our commitment with new routes designed to help customers realize their travel goals in 2026 from important hubs such as Chicago and Phoenix,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning. “With new routes from places like Lincoln, Nebraska; Abilene, Texas; Columbia, Missouri; and more, we’re providing local residents one-stop access to seal business deals, take a dream vacation with friends or family and enjoy soccer matches on the global stage.”

American’s new domestic routes

Departure airport Arrival airport Aircraft type Service start date Service end date Frequency
Boston (BOS) Madison, Wisconsin (MSN) Embraer 175 June 18, 2026 Year-round Once daily
BOS Nantucket, Massachusetts (ACK) E175 June 18, 2026 Sep. 8, 2026 Once daily
Charlotte (CLT) Columbia, Missouri (COU) E175 June 4, 2026 Year-round Once daily
Chicago (ORD) Erie, Pennsylvania (ERI) Bombardier CRJ-700 May 21, 2026 Year-round Once daily
ORD Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK) CRJ-700 June 4, 2026 Year-round Once daily
ORD Tri-Cities, Tennessee (TRI) Embraer 170 May 21, 2026 Year-round Once daily
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) LNK CRJ-700 June 4, 2026 Year-round Twice daily
DFW Roanoke, Virginia (ROA) Bombardier CRJ-900 June 4, 2026 Year-round Once daily
Miami (MIA) Jackson, Mississippi (JAN) E175 March 14, 2026 Aug. 1, 2026 Once weekly on Saturdays
Phoenix (PHX) Abilene, Texas (ABI) E175 June 4, 2026 Year-round Once daily
PHX Anchorage, Alaska (ANC) Airbus A321neo May 21, 2026 Sept. 8, 2026 Once daily
PHX Bozeman, Montana (BZN) E175 June 4, 2026 Sept. 8, 2026 Once daily
PHX Kalispell, Montana (FCA) CRJ-700 June 19, 2026 Sept. 6, 2026 Twice weekly
PHX LNK CRJ-700 Winter 2026 Seasonal Once daily
PHX McAllen, Texas (MFE) E175 June 4, 2026 Year-round Once daily
PHX Rapid City, South Dakota (RAP) E175 June 4, 2026 Oct. 4, 2026 Once daily

American’s growing Chicago hub

American will offer more than 500 daily departures from Chicago (ORD) next summer as part of its continued commitment to the hub. The airline has added new service to more than 25 destinations from ORD and added frequencies in other markets this year, making the airport one of the fastest-growing hubs in the country. With this momentum, American is focused on thoughtfully growing its ORD network to more than 180 destinations and adding more flights in popular markets.

This growth will continue in 2026 with the addition of service to Erie, Pennsylvania (ERI); Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK); and Tri-Cities, Tennessee (TRI). And, as customers have positively responded to American’s winter network, the airline will extend winter-only offerings to Santa Fe, New Mexico (SAF) and Key West, Florida (EYW) into the summer between May 21 and Sept. 8.

Separately, American will also expand summer service from ORD to Hilton Head, South Carolina (HHH), and to Pensacola (PNS) and Panama City (ECP) in Florida. Previously operated only on the weekends, flights to these cities will operate daily between Feb. 12 and Sept. 8.

American will continue to grow options for Chicagoans to travel with increased frequencies across the airline’s network. In the spring, American will increase departures by more than 30% compared to 2025, offering more than 480 peak daily departures from ORD just in time for spring break.

All destinations served from ORD this spring will return next year, making American the only hub carrier at the airport to achieve this feat. As part of its demonstrated investment in Chicago, the airline will offer more than 25 additional destinations next spring versus 2025, including a mix of new destinations and seasonal routes that will start earlier.

All of American’s flights from ORD operate with dual-class aircraft, giving customers the opportunity to enhance their travel experience with the selection of a premium cabin. In addition, American’s ORD to London (LHR) route will continue to offer Flagship Suite® seats for customers. Chicago was the first city in American’s network to receive this elevated premium offering.

Connecting smaller cities with the world

Traveling across the country and around the world will be easier than before on American’s global network. Starting June 4, American will add service to its 240th destination in the U.S.: Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK). No other airline serves as many domestic destinations as American, and now residents from LNK will have competitive one-stop service to international destinations such as Athens, Greece (ATH); Cancun, Mexico (CUN); Rome (FCO) and Sao Paulo (GRU).

In the Western U.S., American will grow its Phoenix (PHX) hub with seven new routes. New service to Bozeman, Montana (BZN); Kalispell, Montana (FCA); and Rapid City, South Dakota (RAP) will make it easier for travelers from states including California, Nevada and Arizona to get to national parks, monuments and more. Meanwhile, new flights to Abilene (ABI) and McAllen (MFE) in Texas will provide travelers one-stop access to destinations across the Western U.S. and Mexico.

This growth is part of American’s consistent commitment to powering global access through its hubs. Recently, the airline launched service to cities including Carlsbad, California (CLD); Golden Triangle, Mississippi (GTR); Santa Maria, California (SMX); and Sun Valley, Idaho (SUN). In 2026, the airline will also be the only airline connecting the U.S. with Bimini, Bahamas (BIM), and will add service to Vero Beach, Florida (VRB).

Collectively, American’s hub airports power global access to more than 350 destinations around the world served by the airline. Together with American’s airline partners, customers can access more than 1,000 destinations.

About American Airlines Group
As a leading global airline, American Airlines offers thousands of flights per day to more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries. The airline is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members serve more than 900 destinations around the globe. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. To Care for People on Life’s Journey®.

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