Fort Worth-based American Airlines plans to boost its domestic network for summer 2026, as the airline announced this week it will increase capacity on key routes, while also adding a number of new routes to its network. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Gunnison, Colorado, will take off between June and October next year.
American plans to launch the new service between New York JFK and Jackson Hole, from June 18, through to October 4, while Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Gunnison, Colorado, will launch from June 18, through to September 8, both using the carrier’s Airbus A319 airplanes.
New Services For New York LaGuardia
More weekend routes are set to feature from one of New York’s favourite airports, LaGuardia. This airport is the closest to downtown Manhattan, at just 9.5 miles (15 km). American Eagle, the regional subsidiary of American Airlines, will launch direct services to Jacksonville, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia, on February 13, and will fly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. As highlighted by AirlineGeeks, this will see the LaGuardia to Jacksonville link reborn after the carrier pulled the service back in 2017.
Americans won’t go without direct and indirect competition on both routes, with Jacksonville already welcoming direct flights to the Big Apple with Delta Air Lines (and Delta Connection) year-round services to New York JFK, and La Guardia, JetBlue to New York JFK, and United Airlines (and United Express) to Newark Liberty International Airport.
Savannah/Hilton Head is the same, with Delta Air Lines (Delta Connection) operating year-round services from New York JFK and LaGuardia, JetBlue from New York JFK, and United Airlines (including United Express) with direct non-stop services from Newark.
Non-stop Services To Myrtle Beach
This year, American returned to operating seasonal services between New York and Myrtle Beach. This route, which runs between June and August with the Embraer E175, is set to return for 2026, with American announcing plans to operate service from LaGuardia from March 13 through to September 8.
American already has an established network of flights to and from Myrtle Beach, including year-round services to Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Washington National, with seasonal routes added to Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, and now New York LaGuardia Airport. The New York service, which, as already mentioned, will be operated with the E175, has the following configuration:
Class |
First |
Main Cabin Extra |
Main Cabin |
---|---|---|---|
Seats |
12 |
20 |
44 |
Seat Pitch |
37″ (93 cm) |
34″ (86 cm) |
30″ (76 cm) |
Seat Width |
19.9″ (50 cm) |
18.2- 19.3″ (46 – 49 cm) |
18.2- 19.3″ (46 – 49 cm) |
Myrtle Beach is located on the sunny beaches of Horry County, South Carolina, and is known for its long and continuous stretch of beach, known as the Grand Strand (reaching 60 miles / 97 km). It is a major centre of tourism for the state, and visitors enjoy the warm subtropical climate and abundance of golf courses, restaurants, and attractions.
Direct Flights To Jackson Hole and Gunnison
For the first time since 2022, American will offer direct flights between New York JFK and Jackson Hole. These services, which are to be operated with the Airbus A219, will be served daily from June 18 through to October 4. These direct flights will allow visitors to travel directly from New York (or connect via) to JAC, the gateway to the Grand Teton National Park.
American Airlines will establish its only seasonal route to Gunnison, Colorado, from June 18 through to September 8. This route will provide travelers with a direct flight to the tourism attractions of Colorado’s Black Canyon, Gunnison National Park, and Blue Mesa Reservoir. Seasonal flights are also added to the city by JSX to Dallas-Love, United Airlines to Chicago O’Hare, from December 19, and Houston Intercontinental, while year-round services to Denver are offered by United Express.
Just yesterday, American also announced its intentions to restart direct flights to Alaska from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The service, which will launch from May 21 through to September 8, will be operated by the Airbus A321neo. This comes the same week that Southwest Airlines also suggested plans to launch its first-ever flights to the state.