Category Archives: American Airlines

American Airlines announces new amenity kits

American Airlines has teamed up with leading up-and-coming lifestyle and skincare brands to develop new and improved premium amenity kits. This year’s kits are specifically tailored with the frequent first and business class traveler’s needs in mind and will officially take to the skies mid-February.

The kits were designed in collaboration with This is Ground, Athletic Propulsion Labs and STATE Bags and feature products from Allies of Skin, Zenology and Baxter of California. Color rotations and products vary depending on cabin, however each kit includes the essentials: an eye mask, earplugs, a toothbrush and toothpaste.

International Flagship First and Business

Kits designed by well-known leather accessory company This is Ground
Features skincare products from Allies of Skin
A variety of bag styles and color rotations

Transcontinental Flagship First and Business

Kits designed by Los-Angeles based shoe company Athletic Propulsion Labs
Features skincare products from Zenology, an oversized eye mask, added FlyFit hydration pack and earplugs

International Premium Economy

Designed by STATE Bags, an uplifting, give-back company whose mission is to create a well-made product while giving back to the community and helping those in need
Features skincare products from Baxter of California and two different color rotations

“American is always exploring ways to innovate and make our customers’ travel experience more relaxing and enjoyable, especially on long-haul flights.” said Janelle Anderson, Vice President of Global Marketing for American. “The changes we’ve made to this year’s amenity kits were driven by our customers’ feedback about what they desire and value while traveling. Our goal is to curate an elevated and restful travel journey, and our new amenity kits are an exciting piece of the onboard and our overall brand experience. We’re thrilled to partner with these brands and offer customers a fresh, modern collection of premium inflight products.”

To date, the airline has invested in its onboard product by adding more fully lie-flat seats, international Wi-Fi, inflight entertainment, live television streaming and healthier contemporary food and beverage choices. It has also opened premium Flagship Lounges and Flagship First Dining at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Miami International Airport (MIA) and O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago. Another Flagship location is coming soon to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

British Airways to move to Terminal 8 at New York JFK

British Airways has today announced it is moving to a new location in Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The airline is investing in a new, improved terminal alongside American Airlines as part of a significant reinvestment by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Over the next four years, more than £250 million ($344m) will be invested to recreate and customise the terminal, making it ready to offer British Airways’ customers an exciting, world-class experience every time they fly to New York. Changes to the terminal will include additional stands, enhanced state-of the-art baggage systems, new lounges, premium check-in areas and upgraded concessions.

British Airways, which celebrates its centenary this year, will remain in Terminal 7 until 2022. With thousands of customers flying between London and New York every week, the airline remains committed to improving its customer experience at JFK with an investment of £52 million ($65m) which includes brand new lounges for First and Club World customers and an upgraded customer experience for all customers in the main areas of the building.

This investment forms part of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement in October 2018 to reinvest in JFK terminals, among other city improvements.

British Airways and American Airlines have a joint business partnership across the Atlantic, providing up to 70 flights a day from London to the USA. By bringing their network of flights together they give customers convenient flight schedules at competitive fares from eight hubs throughout North America and three hubs in Europe.

American Airlines made this announcement:

Today, American Airlines, British Airways, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced future plans to co-locate their operations in New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 8. Moving under the same roof will allow American and British Airways to offer enhanced service between New York and London, further strengthening the airlines’ Atlantic Joint Business partnership. American and British Airways will invest $344 million in Terminal 8 over the next three years to prepare for the co-location in 2022.

British Airways moving from its current operation in Terminal 7 will allow the two airlines to offer even better service between New York and London — and beyond.

This $344 million investment in Terminal 8 will include improvements in the overall customer experience, including the addition of five widebody gates and four adjacent widebody hard stands, enhanced baggage systems, new lounges, premium check-in space and upgraded concessions and retail options. Additionally, customers arriving in New York will enjoy the ability to more conveniently connect onto other American Airlines flights and customers departing New York will gain the flexibility of 14 daily flights to London all departing from the same terminal.

“Only four months ago, we announced plans to transform JFK Airport into a state-of-the-art global hub, with new and unified terminals adding 4 million square feet and increasing the airport’s capacity by at least 15 million passengers annually,” Governor Cuomo said. “Today that transformation is well underway, with an extraordinary private investment that will turn JFK into a truly modern airport. This new investment is part and parcel with the State’s broader efforts to modernize airports all across New York. From JFK and LaGuardia to Ithaca and Rochester, we are making historic progress rebuilding our airport infrastructure for the future and ensuring New York State remains the nation’s front door.”

American Airlines and British Airways have a joint business partnership across the Atlantic, providing up to 70 flights a day between London and the United States. By bringing their network of flights together, they give customers convenient flight schedules at competitive fares from eight hubs throughout North America and three hubs in Europe.

British Airways will remain in Terminal 7 until 2022. With thousands of customers flying between New York and London every week, the airline remains committed to improving its customer experience at JFK Terminal 7. British Airways is investing $65 million, including a brand new First lounge which opened last year and further improvements planned in 2019.

JFK is not alone among American’s hubs in getting an upgrade. With its airport partners, American has spent and committed billions of dollars for projects at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Miami International Airport (MIA), Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C., O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

American connects New York to the world through its operations at JFK and LGA. At JFK, American operates about 100 flights to more than 40 destinations in more than 15 countries. At LGA, American offers more than 170 daily flights to more than 40 destinations in the United States and Canada.

More than 8,000 American team members call New York home at JFK and LGA and help American support a variety of community and civic programs important to the city through Do Crew, the airline’s team member volunteer program. They include City Year New York, PENCIL and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. American has increased its corporate giving to charitable organizations across the city by nearly 30 percent since 2016.

All photos by the airlines.

American Airlines welcomes its first Airbus A321neo – N400AN

American Airlines has made this announcement:

After an 8 1/2-hour nonstop journey from Hamburg, Germany (XFW), the newest member of the American Airlines fleet has landed.

N400AN, American’s first Airbus A321neo, touched down at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) shortly before noon February 1. After clearing customs, the plane will head to American’s Base Maintenance facility at PIT, where it will spend a couple of weeks undergoing the usual extensive acceptance checks conducted whenever the airline adds a new aircraft type to its fleet. The Tech Ops – PIT team will install ViaSat satellite Wi-Fi, conduct general ops checks and add interior and exterior placards as they customize the aircraft for American. After that, it will visit other American bases before entering service.

The A321neo is scheduled to begin flying customers April 2 between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Arizona and Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Florida.

Once the company takes more deliveries, additional routes will include PHX–Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in Alaska over the summer, and PHX and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Hawaii later this year as the A321neo begins to replace retiring Boeing 757s. The A321 is already a versatile aircraft, and the A321neo (which stands for “new engine option”) adds about 400 nautical miles in range thanks to improved fuel burn from the new engines, putting additional destinations within reach.

American has ordered 100 of these jets with deliveries running over the next several years. They seat 196 customers and, in addition to the fast Wi-Fi, include power at every seat and free wireless entertainment to each customer’s own device including free live television. Additionally, American is the launch customer for Airbus’ new XL overhead bins which significantly increase capacity. The A321neo is American’s first aircraft delivered with these bins and the company will begin retrofitting existing A321s with this same bin later this year.

American is taking the “Cabin Flex,” or “NX,” option of the A321neo, which has a new door configuration. The A321neo is part of the order for 460 aircraft placed by American in 2011, which also included 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The aircraft from that order have transformed American’s fleet into the youngest among U.S. network airlines.

A321neo facts

Engines: CFM LEAP-1A
Length: 146 feet
Height: 38 feet, 7 inches
Wingspan: 117 feet, 5 inches

All photos by American Airlines.

American opens a new hangar at Chicago O’Hare

Exterior of American Airlines Hangar 2 at O’Hare International Airport

Global architecture and engineering firm Ghafari Associates is excited to announce the completion of American Airlines’ Hangar 2 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the longest clear span, dual threshold airline hangar in the world.

The new facility was unveiled at a grand opening celebration on January 25 attended by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Ghafari team members, and over 200 officials, customers, employees, partners, and vendors.

Ghafari provided architecture and engineering services for the development of the 194,000 SF dual-entry facility, which can accommodate all aircraft variants in American’s fleet, including narrow-body and wide-body types. The facility also houses ancillary support functions, including a general back shop, a component staging area, and storage spaces.

Unique to the hangar is dual access entry, allowing aircraft to enter and exit from either side of the long dimension. Coupled with a larger capacity for aircraft hardstand positions, this feature offers greater flexibility in servicing American’s extensive fleet of aircraft. The facility is also designed with over 20,000 linear feet of underground utilities, providing point-of-use aircraft services for safer, more effective, and timesaving operations. Additional key features of the design include the use of LED lighting and daylight harvesting, which will reduce energy costs while meeting the Sustainable Airport Manual requirements.

American Airlines Group reports fourth quarter and full year 2018 profit

American Airlines Group Inc. today reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 results, including these highlights:

Reported a fourth-quarter 2018 pre-tax profit of $387 million, or $634 million excluding net special items¹, and a fourth-quarter net profit of $319 million, or $481 million excluding net special items^1,3
Reported a full-year 2018 pre-tax profit of $1.9 billion, or $2.8 billion excluding net special items², and a full-year net profit of $1.4 billion, or $2.1 billion excluding net special items^2,3
Fourth-quarter earnings were $0.69 per diluted share, or $1.04 per diluted share excluding net special items. Full-year 2018 earnings were $3.03 per diluted share, or $4.55 per diluted share excluding net special items.
Accrued $175 million for the company’s profit sharing program in 2018, including $40 million in the fourth quarter
Returned $986 million to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases in 2018

“We thank our team for taking care of our customers during the busy holiday travel period. Their efforts led to significant improvements in key operational metrics and great customer service. We also completed a number of important merger integration projects that will serve us well in the future,” Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said.

“We enter 2019 with great momentum. We are intent upon running the most reliable operation in our post-merger history, pursuing high margin growth opportunities at our most profitable hubs, and executing on a number of valuable revenue and cost saving initiatives. We expect our total revenue per available seat mile to grow faster than our network competitors, and to deliver strong pre-tax earnings growth in 2019. At the midpoint of our guidance, 2019 diluted earnings per share excluding special items would increase approximately 40 percent versus 2018.”

Fourth-Quarter Revenue and Expenses

Pre-tax earnings excluding net special items for the fourth quarter of 2018 were $634 million, an $88 million decrease from the fourth quarter of 2017, driven by higher fuel prices.

Continued strength in passenger demand and record passenger yield drove a 3.1 percent year-over-year increase in fourth-quarter 2018 total revenue, to a record $10.9 billion. Driven by a 2.4 percent increase in passenger yield, passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) grew 1.4 percent to 14.59 cents. Cargo revenue was up 3.0 percent to $264 million due to a 9.1 percent increase in yield. Other revenue was up 6.3 percent to $712 million due primarily to higher loyalty revenue. Fourth-quarter total revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) increased by 1.7 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 on a 1.4 percent increase in total available seat miles.

Total fourth-quarter 2018 operating expenses were $10.4 billion, up 4.2 percent year-over-year, driven by a 19.6 percent increase in consolidated fuel expense. Had fuel prices remained unchanged versus the fourth quarter of 2017, total fourth-quarter 2018 expenses would have been approximately $367 million lower. Total fourth-quarter 2018 cost per available seat mile (CASM) was 15.21 cents, up 2.7 percent from fourth quarter 2017. Excluding fuel and special items, consolidated fourth-quarter CASM was 11.32 cents, down 0.2 percent year-over-year.

Strategic Objectives

American’s long-term success is guided and measured by strategic objectives that ensure a healthy, competitive company for the long term: to create a world-class customer experience, make culture a competitive advantage, and build American Airlines to thrive forever by thinking forward and ensuring a strong financial foundation.

Create a World-Class Customer Experience

American has invested more than $25 billion in its team, product and fleet over the past five years – the largest investment of any carrier in commercial aviation history in such a short time. American continues to make large strides in delivering a world-class experience for its customers. In 2018, American:

Activated free live TV, now on 270 aircraft. American continues to be the only U.S. carrier to offer live TV on international flights
Expanded high-speed Wi-Fi, now on 570 aircraft, allowing customers to stream movies and TV shows. The rest of American’s long-term narrowbody aircraft will receive high-speed Wi-Fi in 2019
Launched service on 86 new routes including 14 new destinations, such as Reykjavik, Iceland; Budapest, Hungary; and Prague, Czech Republic. In 2019, American will become the only U.S. carrier to travel nonstop to Bologna, Italy and Dubrovnik, Croatia
Continued to deliver on its product segmentation strategy, expanding Basic Economy to Europe and adding Premium Economy to 103 aircraft. American offers Premium Economy on more aircraft than any other U.S. airline
Ordered 47 new Boeing 787s to replace retiring aircraft and keep American’s fleet the youngest among U.S. network airlines
Continued to offer a great premium experience on the ground and in the air, including renovating Admirals Club lounges in Miami and Dallas-Fort Worth. In 2019, American will open newly-renovated Admirals Club lounges in Boston, Charlotte and Pittsburgh, as well as a new, world-class premium Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining in Dallas-Fort Worth

Make Culture a Competitive Advantage

Taking care of team members translates into better customer care. American’s culture reflects its emphasis on providing the right tools, training and care for its frontline team members. In 2018, American:

Started the year by awarding team members $1,000 each as a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Gave team members the opportunity to travel across American’s global network with two free round-trip tickets for the airline being named Air Transport World’s 2017 Airline of the Year
Completed flight attendant operational integration, allowing flight attendants to fully intermix across the entire fleet. This integration creates improved scheduling options for flight attendants and the airline, and provides greater flexibility and service recovery during irregular operations
Supported the victims of the deadly California wildfires, as American team members conducted one of the airline’s largest disaster relief efforts by assembling 20,000 American Red Cross hygiene kits at its Phoenix cargo facility
Donated more than $35 million in cash and travel value across the globe in support of military and veteran’s initiatives, health research, disaster response and children’s well-being
Awarded $11 million in cash and recognition points through programs that recognize team members for good work supporting customers and colleagues

Build American Airlines to Thrive Forever

American is building a company that we expect to be consistently profitable today and in the future, making decisions to ensure it is financially strong and forward-thinking. In 2018, American:

Returned $986 million to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases in 2018
Reported the best year ever at American Airlines Cargo, with a record $1 billion in revenue and 2 billion pounds of freight delivered
Ended 2018 with approximately $7.6 billion in total available liquidity, comprised of unrestricted cash and investments of $4.8 billion and $2.8 billion in undrawn revolver capacity. The company also had a restricted cash position of $154 million
Instituted the One Airline initiative, producing more than $300 million of cost savings in 2018. The One Airline initiative is designed to drive efficiencies and improve margins through simplifying the operation, improving staffing processes, centralizing internal workflows, and optimizing technology resources
Invested $3.7 billion in new aircraft, facilities upgrades for customers and team members, continued integration, and fleet modifications including the narrowbody retrofit program, high-speed Wi-Fi and Premium Economy
Broke ground on a $1.6 billion modernization project at Terminals 4 and 5 at Los Angeles International Airport, in partnership with Los Angeles World Airports
Unveiled the first new section of Terminal B at LaGuardia. The new concourse includes world-class technology, innovation, and best-in-class amenities. American now occupies three of the 11 gates in the new concourse
Was named No. 69, ahead of all other commercial airlines, on The Wall Street Journal’s Management Top 250 list
Launched a one-step facial recognition program at Los Angeles Terminal 4, which offers an easier airport experience for customers on select international departures

2019 Focus

In 2019, American is focused on growing revenue, implementing cost improvements and running the most reliable operation in its post-merger history.

Extensive revenue initiatives – American expects to achieve $1 billion of revenue improvements in 2019 as it benefits from network optimization, merchandising and product segmentation. American leads the industry in Premium Economy, with the product on more aircraft than any other U.S. carrier. Premium Economy will be expanded to American’s full long-term widebody fleet by mid-2019. American will also add a total of 19 new gates at its Dallas-Fort Worth and Charlotte hubs, creating significant new revenue opportunities
Significant cost improvements – American’s 2019 initiatives are expected to produce more than $300 million of cost savings compared to 2018 by eliminating post-merger cost redundancies, leveraging technology efficiencies, and implementing changes to network strategy
Improve operational reliability – The airline is intensely focused on operational reliability, with efforts specifically targeting on-time departures, turn times and aircraft out of service

Quarterly Dividend

American declared a dividend of $0.10 per share to be paid on Feb. 20, 2019, to stockholders of record as of Feb. 6, 2019.

Guidance and Investor Update

American expects its first-quarter 2019 TRASM to be flat to up approximately 2.0 percent year-over-year. The company also expects its first-quarter 2019 pre-tax margin excluding net special items to be between 2.5 and 4.5 percent.⁴ Based on today’s guidance, American expects its 2019 diluted earnings per share excluding net special items to be between $5.50 and $7.50.⁴

Notes

See the accompanying notes in the Financial Tables section of this press release for further explanation, including a reconciliation of all GAAP to non-GAAP financial information.

In the fourth quarter, the company recognized $247 million in net special items before the effect of income taxes. Fourth-quarter operating special items of $230 million principally included $146 million of fleet restructuring expenses, $81 million of merger integration expenses and $37 million in severance costs associated with reductions in headcount of management and support staff team members. These charges were offset in part by a $37 million net credit resulting from mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations. The company also recognized nonoperating special items of $17 million primarily related to mark-to-market net unrealized losses associated with certain equity investments.
For the full year 2018, the company recognized $906 million in net special items before the effect of income taxes. Total operating special items totaled a net charge of $793 million, which principally included $422 million of fleet restructuring expenses, $268 million of merger integration expenses, $58 million in severance costs as described above, a $45 million litigation settlement, and a $26 million non-cash charge to write off the company’s Brazil route authority intangible asset as a result of the U.S.-Brazil open skies agreement. These charges were offset in part by a $76 million net credit resulting from mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations. The company also recognized nonoperating special items of $113 million primarily related to mark-to-market net unrealized losses associated with certain equity investments.
The 2018 fourth quarter income tax special credit of $22 million is the result of the reversal of the valuation allowance previously recognized in the 2018 first quarter related to the company’s estimated refund for Alternative Minimum Tax credits, which is no longer subject to sequestration. The 2018 full year income tax special charge of $18 million is related to an international income tax matter.
American is unable to reconcile certain forward-looking projections to GAAP, as the nature or amount of special items cannot be determined at this time.

American Airlines aircraft slide show (Boeing):

American Airlines marks the 10th Anniversary of the Miracle on the Hudson

American Airlines on January 15 joined the crew and passengers of US Airways Flight 1549 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Miracle on the Hudson at a luncheon hosted by the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, First Officer Jeff Skiles and Flight Attendants Sheila Dail, Donna Dent and Doreen Welsh were recognized for the bravery and skill they demonstrated on Jan. 15, 2009.

Ten years ago, shortly after takeoff, US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of geese, disabling both engines of the Airbus A320 aircraft. Sullenberger and Skiles quickly ditched the aircraft in the Hudson River while Dail, Dent and Welsh helped passengers evacuate. Through the heroic actions of the crew and the immediate response from public and private agencies and organizations in New York and New Jersey, all 150 passengers survived. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Kitty Higgins later described Flight 1549 as “the most successful ditching in aviation history.”

“Flight 1549 quickly became known as the Miracle on the Hudson, but all of us know that what Capt. Sullenberger, First Officer Jeff Skiles and Flight Attendants Sheila Dail, Donna Dent and Doreen Welsh did on the Hudson was not a miracle, but an example of great skill and professionalism produced by years of training and experience,” American’s Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said.

Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, First Officer Jeff Skiles and Flight Attendants Sheila Dail, Donna Dent and Doreen Welsh were honored at the luncheon.

Luncheon attendees joined in a champagne toast at 3:31 p.m. ET to mark the time of the ditching.

“There’s never been a story quite like this one, and probably never will be. It is also a reminder of why our pilots and flight attendants train and prepare as hard as they do. We are proud of Sully, Jeff, Sheila, Donna and Doreen’s place in aviation history and are thankful for the hundreds of team members from across the company who sprang into action to take care of our customers and the crew in the hours, days, weeks and months after the accident.”

Parker joined former New York Governor David Paterson; City of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles; President of the Carolinas Aviation Museum Stephen Saucier; union, corporate, government and nonprofit representatives and dozens of current and former airline team members who were instrumental in the response at the luncheon.

The airline’s CARE Team, a vital part of the emergency effort, helped to provide the immediate humanitarian response for the passengers, their loved ones and the crew.

After the luncheon, the crew, passengers and several American team members gathered around the aircraft involved in the accident, which resides at the Carolinas Aviation Museum, for a celebratory toast at 3:31 p.m. ET — the time of the ditching — to honor the milestone anniversary.

Each member of the crew of Flight 1549 had decades of aviation experience at the time of the accident. Sullenberger had been a pilot with US Airways for nearly 30 years and had more than 19,000 hours of flight time, placing him among the most qualified airline pilots in the world. Skiles had more than 15,000 hours of flight time and had just started flying Airbus A320 aircraft. Dail and Dent each had nearly 30 years of flight attendant experience; Welsh, nearly 40.

Sullenberger and Welsh retired from US Airways in 2010. Dent retired from American in 2017 and today marks Dail’s last day at the airline before retirement. Skiles is based in Chicago and flies Boeing 787 aircraft for American.

American reopens Hangar 2 at Tulsa

American Airlines made this announcement:

It’s a new era for a World War II-era hangar here. On January 9, 2019 American’s Tech Ops – Tulsa team officially reopened Hangar 2’s Dock 2D for business after a tail slot modification that allows it to house larger aircraft. Tulsa city leaders, the Airport Authority, Chamber leaders, TWU Local 514 leadership and several hundred team members attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Hangar 2 is one of four hangars that were part of the original base when American relocated its Maintenance operation to Tulsa from LGA in 1946. The hangars were built to accommodate smaller aircraft than we commonly fly today. Most recently, Dock 2D was used for maintenance on the McDonnell Douglas MD-80.

The modification — nicknamed the doghouse because of how it looks from the front — allows larger aircraft to fit completely into the dock, including the tail. The hangar ceiling had to be raised to accommodate the tail section and the new slot, and various structural beams, utilities and wiring had to be reworked to create the slot opening. The hangar’s two smaller doors became one larger door, and another door was added for the tail slot itself. Three other docks in the Hangar 1/2 complex in Tulsa have received similar modifications over the last several years.

Dock 2D before the tail slot modification (left) and after, with the first Airbus A319 to visit Tech Ops – Tulsa parked inside

The $2.7 million Dock 2D project was supported with funding from Vision Tulsa, an $884 million sales tax renewal package approved by voters in 2016. Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum led the local delegation at the grand opening to highlight both the commitment the city and American have to each other and why they chose to invest in us.

“With the Vision Tulsa sales tax, Tulsans are investing in their city for continued economic development through projects such as this tail slot at the Tulsa Maintenance Base,” Mayor Bynum said. “We are proud to continue our many decades of partnership between the City of Tulsa and American Airlines.”

The modification is already paying off. The first aircraft to use Dock 2D after its reopening is the Airbus A319, which, until now, had never visited Tech Ops – Tulsa.

“I’ve worked at the Tulsa base for 23 years, and I’ve always thought it was good place to be,” said Crew Chief Jimmy Downing. “As a mechanic, I want to see all our space used, so it’s exciting to see this hangar space get modified. We’ve been hoping to see Airbus or other work here, and it’s nice to see it finally happening.”

The team will run a dedicated special visit line (additional work to prepare aircraft for the summer) this month, and scheduled A-checks with the Airbus will soon begin in Hangar 80.

“It is fantastic to have the A319 here at the Tulsa base, to jump on a near-term opportunity to accelerate summer readiness work and to capitalize on the Tulsa team’s training and readiness for the Airbus aircraft,” said Craig Barton, Vice President of Technical Services.

Erik Olund, Managing Director of Base Maintenance, added, “We are incredibly grateful for the support from the City of Tulsa for the tail modification. With this functional space, our team can stand ready to provide additional support for the operation as we stay focused on providing a world-class experience for our customers. I know our team will knock it out of the park.”

American to add two American Eagle routes to Florida

American Airlines according to Airline Route is adding two new routes in May 2019 to Florida:

New York (LGA) – Daytona Beach – twice-weekly effective May 4, operated by Republic Airline (Republic Airways)

Washington (Reagan National) – Melbourne, FL – twice-weekly effective May 4, 2019, operated by Republic Airline

Both routes will be operated with Embraer 175 aircraft.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Republic): American Eagle Airlines (2nd)-Republic Airlines (2nd) Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N447YX (msn 17000463) MIA (Jay Selman). Image: 403927.

American Eagle-Republic aircraft slide show:

American Airlines adds flights for college football’s championship game

American Airlines is announcing new service to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) in California for the college football championship game. Nonstop flights from Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) in South Carolina and Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) in Alabama to SJC are available for purchase now.

American already operates up to 16 flights per day to SJC from four of its hubs: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW); O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago; Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Phoenix, Arizona; and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

In total, college football fans will have 16 American flights to SJC to choose from January 5, 2019 and even more options for the trip home January 8, 2019 with 17 American flights scheduled from SJC.

Schedule of added direct service

Date	Departure airport	Arrival airport	Departure time	Arrival time	Aircraft type
Jan. 5	GSP	SJC	12:15 p.m.	2:58 p.m.	Airbus A321
Jan. 5	BHM	SJC	10:10 a.m.	1:15 p.m.	Airbus A321
Jan. 8	SJC	GSP	10:45 a.m.	6:33 p.m.	Boeing 737
Jan. 8	SJC	GSP	1:45 p.m.	9:24 p.m.	Boeing 737
Jan. 8	SJC	BHM	10 a.m.	4:35 p.m.	Boeing 737
Jan. 8	SJC	BHM	2:15 p.m.	8:50 p.m.	Boeing 737

American has more service than any other airline from GSP and BHM today, and with this announcement in support of the championship game, increases daily service to up to 20 flights per day from GSP and up to 21 flights per day from BHM.

Top Copyright Photo: American Airlines Airbus A321-231 WL N934AA (msn 7500) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 945009.

American aircraft slide show:

American Airlines introduces 18 new routes and adds seats to Paris and Madrid

American Airlines is opening up additional flights to more cities across the U.S. as well as two new flights to Europe.

The 18 new routes start this summer and include a new destination: Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, Montana (FCA), with service from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

The airline is also returning to Canada’s Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Nova Scotia (YHZ), with service from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and LaGuardia Airport in New York (LGA).

The world’s largest airline is also increasing summer service from DFW to two popular European cities next summer: Paris and Madrid.

All flights will be available for sale Monday, December 17.

More domestic flights from hubs

“With 18 new routes, we are committed to providing the most choices for our customers across the U.S. and a chance to see the world,” said Vasu Raja, Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning for American. “Service to Kalispell, for example, offers an exciting destination for our customers to experience. It also introduces new opportunities for local Kalispell customers to connect across American’s vast network through LAX, ORD and DFW.”

At the same time, the company is investing to provide a more consistent experience across regional and mainline fleets. American’s dual-class regional aircraft are equipped with first class seats, Wi-Fi and free wireless entertainment, and work has already begun to provide access to power at every seat.

More service from DFW

American continues to grow its largest hub as it increases to 900 flights per day in the summer of 2019 by opening 15 new gates at the Terminal E satellite. American will add five new routes from DFW beginning in April with service to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) in California. In May, the airline will launch new daily service to Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) in South Carolina. Then, in June, in addition to Kalispell, American begins year-round service to Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) in Pennsylvania and daily seasonal service to California’s Wine Country via Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa.

The airline will also add a second daily flight to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris and Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) starting June 6, providing more choices and connectivity for its customers and cargo, improving what is already the most robust service to those destinations from DFW.

“The additional flights are scheduled to provide more flexibility in a traveler’s day with a later departure from DFW and from CDG, and, in the case of MAD, enable optimal connectivity to Iberia’s network from larger markets such as Sacramento, California (SMF); Reno, Nevada (RNO); and Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL),” said Raja.

Customers flying to CDG and MAD from DFW can choose fully lie-flat business class seats featuring access to the Flagship Lounge and chef-designed meals, as well as a lumbar support pillow and duvet from sleep experts Casper. Or, they can opt for one of more than 20 Premium Economy seats featuring more width, legroom and adjustability; extendable foot and head rests; a chef-inspired meal; complimentary amenity kits and a Casper pillow and blanket.

The additional CDG and MAD flights will be operated as part of the Atlantic Joint Business (AJB) among American, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair. Through the AJB, customers can seamlessly book and fly on nearly 150 trans-Atlantic flights to hundreds of destinations in North America, Europe and the Caribbean.

Second daily flight to CDG and MAD, June 6–Oct. 27 (subject to change)

DFW–CDG (Boeing 787-9)

AA22
Departs DFW at 8:30 p.m.
Arrives CDG at 12:45 p.m.

AA23
Departs CDG at 3:25 p.m.
Arrives DFW at 6:50p.m.

DFW–MAD (Boeing 787-9)

AA156
Departs DFW at 8:50 p.m.
Arrives MAD at 1:05 p.m.

AA157
Departs MAD at 4:55 p.m.
Arrives DFW at 8:20 p.m.

New summer routes

From DFW

Destination city	Aircraft	Flights begin	Frequency	Season
San Luis Obispo, California (SBP)	E175	April 2	Daily	Year-round
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR)	E175	May 3	Daily	Summer
Kalispell, Montana (FCA)	E175	June 6	Daily	Summer
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (MDT)	E175	June 6	Daily	Year-round
Santa Rosa, California (STS)	E175	June 6	Daily	Summer/Fall

From DCA

Destination city	Aircraft	Flights begin	Frequency	Season
Melbourne, Florida (MLB)	E175	May 4	Sat./Sun.	Summer

From LAX

Destination city	Aircraft	Flights begin	Frequency	Season
Santa Rosa, California (STS)	E175	May 3	Daily	Summer
Kalispell, Montana (FCA)	E175	June 6	Daily	Summer

From LGA

Destination city	Aircraft	Flights begin	Frequency	Season
Columbia, South Carolina (CAE)	E145	May 3	Daily	Year-round
Asheville, North Carolina (AVL)	E175	May 4	Sat./Sun.	Summer
Daytona Beach, Florida (DAB)	E175	May 4	Sat./Sun.	Summer
Jackson, Wyoming (JAC)	A319	June 8	Saturday	Summer
Halifax, Nova Scotia (YHZ)	E175	June 15	Saturday	Summer

From ORD

Destination city	Aircraft	Flights begin	Frequency	Season
Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT)	CRJ700	June 6	Daily	Year-round
Kalispell, Montana (FCA)	E175	June 6	Daily	Summer
Durango, Colorado (DRO)	CRJ700	June 8	Saturday	Summer

From PHL

Destination city	Aircraft	Flights begin	Frequency	Season
Halifax, Nova Scotia (YHZ)	E175	June 13	Daily	Summer

From PHX

Destination city	Aircraft	Flights begin	Frequency	Season
Raleigh, North Carolina (RDU)	A320	May 3	Daily	Year-round

Also, as previously announced, American will inaugurate 28 new domestic and international routes from Dec. 19 to 22, 2018 on top of two international launches this week: MIA–Matecana International Airport (PEI) in Pereira, Columbia, and MIA–Argyle International Airport (SVD) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by American): American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner N832AA (msn 40638) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 944767.

American aircraft slide show (Boeing):