American Airlines has announced the addition of six long-haul routes for the upcoming summer season, primarily focusing on its Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA), and Philadelphia (PHL) hubs. While presented as new additions, aviation analyst Zach Griff highlighted on social media that only one of these routes is genuinely new, with the others being resumptions of previously operated services.
The announced routes include Dallas/Fort Worth to Athens (DFW-ATH), Dallas/Fort Worth to Buenos Aires (DFW-EZE), Dallas/Fort Worth to Zurich (DFW-ZRH), Miami to Milan (MIA-MXP), Philadelphia to Budapest (PHL-BUD), and Philadelphia to Prague (PHL-PRG). According to Griff's tweet, DFW-Athens is the sole entirely new route, while the remaining five are technical resumptions. For instance, the DFW-Buenos Aires route will see a summertime extension, transitioning from seasonal to year-round service.
This expansion underscores American Airlines' strategy to bolster its transatlantic presence, particularly to European destinations, and strengthen key hubs. Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, has previously stated the airline's commitment to providing more options for customers traveling to Europe. The routes are primarily operated by Boeing 787-8 and 777-200 aircraft, aligning with the airline's long-haul fleet.
The Philadelphia hub, a significant transatlantic gateway for American, will gain two of these routes, further connecting the U.S. East Coast to Central Europe. The Miami-Milan route is set to become year-round, indicating a strategic move to solidify year-round demand. These additions reflect a broader industry trend of airlines re-establishing and expanding international networks post-pandemic, often by reinstating popular routes.