American Airlines Announces 15 New Routes for Summer 2026
American Airlines unveiled a significant domestic network expansion on December 19, 2024. The expansion, set to launch in summer 2026, will introduce 15 new routes. The focus is on connecting smaller and mid-sized markets to the airline’s major hubs, with Phoenix and Chicago experiencing the most substantial growth.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Expansion
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will benefit from seven new routes. These include seasonal service to:
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Bozeman, Montana
- Kalispell, Montana
- Rapid City, South Dakota
- McAllen, Texas
- Abilene, Texas
The Phoenix-Anchorage route will operate on an Airbus A321neo aircraft, catering to the strong leisure demand for summer travel to outdoor destinations.
Chicago O’Hare Expansion
Chicago O’Hare will welcome three additional routes, connecting to:
- Erie, Pennsylvania
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Tri-Cities, Tennessee
The airline plans to operate more than 500 daily departures from Chicago next summer. Lincoln, Nebraska, will become American’s 240th U.S. destination, with service from Dallas-Fort Worth operating twice daily year-round.
“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,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning.
The expansion emphasizes regional connectivity using Embraer 170/175 and Bombardier CRJ aircraft. This reflects the airline’s strategy to fill gaps in underserved markets rather than launching headline-grabbing international routes.
Source: American Airlines Newsroom