American Airlines Continues To Build Up Austin With 14 More New Routes

There is more big news for Austin-area travelers. American Airlines is continuing to double down on its commitment to the city. Already operating a “focus city” of sorts, American is continuing to expand out of Austin with a whopping 14 new routes slated to start this fall, including new international services.

American Airlines is planning even more growth out of Austin this fall. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

American adding 14 new routes in Austin

Starting as soon as September 8th, American Airlines is adding new nonstop routes to nine destinations in the continental United States from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). The airline will add service to the following destinations:

• Cincinnati (CVG) with twice-daily flights on September 8th
• El Paso (ELP) with three daily flights (one starting on September 8th, another on October 7th, and the third on November 2nd)
• Indianapolis (IND) with twice-daily service (one starting on September 8th and one on October 7th
• Jacksonville (JAX) with one daily flight from September 8th
• Kansas City (MCI) with twice-daily service (one starts on September 8th and the second on November 2nd)
• Oklahoma City (OKC) with one daily flight starting on October 7th
• Reno (RNO) with one daily flight from September 8th
• St. Louis (STL) with twice-daily service (one flight starts on September 8th and the second starts on October 7th)
• Tulsa (TUL) with daily service starting on November 2nd

American’s new domestic routes out of Austin. Rendering created at Great Circle Mapper

In addition, the airline will add five new destinations to its network out of Austin to Latin America and the Caribbean. The following five new destinations from Austin in this region are:

• Cancun, Mexico (CUN), with four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays starting on October 7th
• Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR), with three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays starting on November 2nd
• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ) on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays starting on November 2nd
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR), with three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays starting on November 2nd
• San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU), with daily flights starting on October 7th

American’s international portfolio out of Austin. Rendering created at Great Circle Mapper

In addition, two international destinations will see summer seasonal service convert to year-round service:

• Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) turns to year-round service on November 2nd, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
• Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD) turns to year-round service on October 7th operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays

American Airlines has expanded its flying after seeing the success of its nonstop summer routes. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

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Strengthening its commitment in Austin

American Airlines is also adding new services on existing domestic routes. The following cities will see new services this fall:

• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) will see two additional flights starting on November 2nd
• Orlando (MCO) will see an additional flight starting on October 7th
• Miami (MIA) will see two additional flights, with one starting on October 7th and the other starting on November 2nd
• New Orleans (MSY) will see an additional flight on October 7th
• Tampa (TPA) will see an additional flight on November 2nd

In March, American Airlines announced ten new nonstop routes out of Austin, one of the airline’s most important cities. This latest announcement will continue to build up the airline’s commitment to one of the fastest-growing cities in America.

American Airlines has significantly ramped up its capacity in Austin this year. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Brian Znotins, American’s Vice President of Network Planning, stated the following on the new routes out of Austin:

“Earlier this year we added more flights from Austin, and customers have spoken: they want more. We’re eager to offer our customers even more opportunities to reconnect with family, friends and colleagues. Together with our partners, we’re making it easier than ever to connect Austin with the world.”

Combined with its partners, the airline will sell nearly 100 peak-day departures from Austin this fall. This is a significant amount of flying for a non-hub city. This includes planned flying on Alaska Airlines, British Airways, and JetBlue.

American Airlines and its partners will offer nearly 100 peak-day departures this fall. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Building out a “focus city”

American Airlines has not called Austin a “focus city.” However, the city is starting to become one. Generally, Austin is more of an originating and destination market for American Airlines over a connecting hub. The carrier still prefers to connect its passengers in major hubs like Dallas, Charlotte, or Phoenix.

However, the importance of Austin cannot be overlooked. It is one of America’s fastest-growing cities and is home to major universities and campuses for major corporations, with even more growth is coming.

Austin is becoming a kind of focus city for American Airlines. Photo: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

American Airlines tends to stick to its core hub structure, but it has made moves in other markets to grow more point-to-point services in the crisis. For example, the airline has added many new routes out of Orlando, operating on peak leisure days for summer 2021.

Austin, however, is at a different level. It is not yet large enough to officially be categorized as a hub. However, it is definitely turning into a proper focus city, even if American is shying away from calling it one.

Are you glad to see American add even more growth out of Austin? Let us know in the comments!

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