Fort Worth carrier adds seasonal service to mountain destinations and beachfront cities as part of domestic capacity boost
American Airlines will launch seven new domestic routes next year, targeting leisure travelers heading to mountain resorts and coastal destinations during the peak summer travel season.
The Dallas-Fort Worth-based carrier announced this week it plans to expand operations from its New York hubs and home base with new service beginning in February.
The additions include flights to two Rocky Mountain resort towns previously dropped from the airline’s network. American will resume nonstop service between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, operating daily from June 18 through Oct. 4 using Airbus A319 aircraft. The route marks the carrier’s return to the gateway serving Grand Teton National Park after a three-year absence.
Dallas/Fort Worth will gain nonstop flights to Gunnison, Colorado, running from June 18 through Sept. 8 on A319s. The seasonal route provides access to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Blue Mesa Reservoir.
American Eagle, the carrier’s regional subsidiary, will add weekend-only service from LaGuardia Airport to two Southeast markets. Flights to Jacksonville, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia, both start Feb. 13, operating Fridays through Sundays. The Jacksonville route restores service American discontinued in 2017.
LaGuardia will also see extended seasonal service to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. American plans to operate the route from March 13 through Sept. 8 using Embraer E175 regional jets configured with 76 seats across three cabins.
The airline already serves Myrtle Beach year-round from Charlotte, Philadelphia and Washington National, with seasonal flights from Chicago O’Hare and Dallas/Fort Worth.
Competition on the new routes remains strong. Delta Air Lines operates year-round flights to Jacksonville from both Kennedy and LaGuardia, while JetBlue serves the market from Kennedy. United Airlines provides service through Newark Liberty International Airport.
Delta Connection maintains year-round service to Savannah from Kennedy and LaGuardia. JetBlue flies nonstop from Kennedy, and United Express operates from Newark.
American also announced plans to resume flights between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Alaska, operating from May 21 through Sept. 8 on Airbus A321neo aircraft. The move comes days after Southwest Airlines announced it would launch its first Alaska service.
LaGuardia Airport, located 9.5 miles from downtown Manhattan, serves as American’s closest New York hub to the city center. The expanded weekend service targets leisure travelers seeking direct connections to vacation destinations.
Jackson Hole and Gunnison attract summer visitors for outdoor recreation, while Myrtle Beach draws tourists to its 60-mile stretch of coastline along the Grand Strand in Horry County, South Carolina.
United Express maintains year-round service to Gunnison from Denver. Seasonal carriers including JSX serve the mountain town from Dallas Love Field, while United adds service from Chicago O’Hare and Houston Intercontinental during winter months.
Key Takeaways
- American Airlines will launch seven new domestic routes in 2026, focusing on leisure destinations including mountain resorts and coastal cities.
- New service includes daily flights from JFK to Jackson Hole, Wyoming (June 18-Oct. 4) and Dallas/Fort Worth to Gunnison, Colorado (June 18-Sept. 8).
- American Eagle adds weekend-only service from LaGuardia to Jacksonville and Savannah starting Feb. 13, restoring the Jacksonville route dropped in 2017.
- Extended Myrtle Beach service from LaGuardia runs March 13-Sept. 8, joining American’s existing year-round routes from Charlotte, Philadelphia and Washington National.
- Delta, JetBlue and United already serve the new markets, providing direct competition on all routes.
