American Airlines Builds Up Austin With 10 New Routes

Austin is getting a lot of love from American Airlines. The carrier is adding ten new routes from the Texan capital. This includes seven year-round and three seasonal flights. Coupled with codeshares on partners – JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and British Airways – American will offer its customers access to 26 destinations out of Austin this summer.

American’s ten new routes out of Austin

Out of Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), American Airlines will be adding year-round service to the following new destinations:

• Nashville International Airport (BNA) with daily service from May 6th, growing to twice-daily service from July 2nd using Embraer E175s
• Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport (LAS) with daily service from May 6th, growing to twice-daily service from June 3rd using Boeing 737-800s
• Orlando International Airport (MCO) with daily service from May 6th on a Boeing 737-800
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) with daily service from May 6th using an Embraer E175
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) with daily service from July 2nd, and increasing to twice-daily service from August 17th on Embraer E175s
• Tampa International Airport (TPA) from June 3rd with daily Airbus A319 service
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) with twice-daily service from August 17th using Airbus A319s

Additionally, three new cities are getting seasonal Saturday-only service:

• Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) from June 5th through September 4th on a Mitsubishi CRJ700
• Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) from June 5th through August 14th using an Embraer E175
• Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) from June 5th through August 14th on a seasonal extension using an Airbus A319

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

“American is eager to expand in Austin alongside the exponential growth of the region, and we’ll be the easiest airline to do business with as we continue to grow. Customers have been asking for more service to Austin, and today we’re answering the call. These routes not only provide opportunities for companies to get back to business and for leisure travelers to enjoy the excitement of Austin, but also connect Central Texans with new leisure destinations they desire.”

American’s growing presence in Austin

American Airlines already serves nine destinations out of Austin. These are:

1. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
2. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
3. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
4. Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW)
5. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
6. Miami International Airport (MIA)
7. New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
8. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
9. Phoenix–Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

American’s Austin route map is going from this…

…to this:

Add in the codeshare and partner services, which includes Alaska’s new service to San Diego, then American will be able to offer its passengers access to the following domestic and short-haul international destinations:

Missing from the above map is the long-haul international route connecting Austin to London-Heathrow (LHR), operated by British Airways. Though currently on hold during the crisis, the airline does plan to return to the Texas capital.

American Airlines already has an Admirals Club in Austin, so the airline views this as an important node in its network. The Austin expansion has even caught the eye of major corporate customers. Oracle’s Director of Global Travel Sourcing, Rita Visser, celebrated the new routes out of Austin:

“Austin is a vibrant technology hub where companies like Oracle are growing, investing and innovating for the future. We look forward to relying on American Airlines’ additional routes to support not just employees traveling to our new Austin headquarters, but also our customers and partners who are building their businesses with Oracle Cloud.”

Turning up the heat in Austin

American Airlines is, essentially, making Austin somewhat of a focus city in its network. Austin is unlikely to become a massive connecting hub– like DFW– in the next few years, but seeing American come in with these additional new services is not all that surprising. The airline has had its eye on Austin for quite some time, and the airport’s growth plans mean there is room now for American, and there will be room in the future – especially as Austin’s population keeps on growing.

Austin is an important city to Delta, which categorizes the airport as a focus city in its network. However, Delta’s Austin presence is little beyond its connections to its mainline hubs. With American adding a host of new routes out of the airport, the competition will be increasing, but it appears American is on track to win the bulk of travelers to and from Austin.

Separately, Southwest Airlines has a large presence out of Austin. The airline, which typically advertises a point-to-point network out of Austin, will compete with American Airlines on some of these routes.

Are you glad to see American Airlines expand out of Austin? Will you fly any of these new American routes? Let us know in the comments!