American Airlines Adds 4 New Routes, Cuts 7 from LaGuardia

NEW YORK- American Airlines (AA) announces significant route adjustments at LaGuardia Airport (LGA), adding four new connections while discontinuing seven others in a major network realignment.

The carrier will launch services to Atlanta (ATL), Charleston (CHS), Madison (MSN), and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) beginning in September, while ending operations to Cincinnati (CVG), Dayton (DAY), and five other destinations as part of its strategic Northeast market reorganization.

Photo: James Cridland | Flickr

American Airlines LaGuardia Routes Changes

American Airlines is implementing a substantial route network transformation at LaGuardia Airport, reflecting its continued commitment to the competitive New York market despite the dissolution of its Northeast Alliance with JetBlue (B6), Enilria reported.

This reshuffling aims to optimize the carrier’s slot utilization while focusing on routes with stronger demand and revenue potential.

New Route Additions

American Airlines is introducing four routes from LaGuardia Airport, beginning in September 2025:

• Atlanta (ATL) Service: Starting September 3, American will resume flights to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) with six daily frequencies using Embraer E175 aircraft. This marks American’s return to this route after a two-year hiatus, having last served it in May 2023. The Atlanta-LaGuardia market currently sees approximately 2,644 passengers daily each way with an average round-trip fare of $516, dominated by Delta Air Lines (DL) with a 50% market share.
• Charleston (CHS) Connection: Also launching September 3, American will restore year-round service to Charleston International Airport (CHS) with two daily frequencies, increasing to three in November. The airline will deploy a mix of Embraer E170 and E175 regional jets on this route, which it previously discontinued in April 2020. Currently, Delta controls 71% of this market with 314 daily passengers each way and average fares of $576 round-trip.
• Madison (MSN) Addition: In a completely new market entry for American since April 2009, the carrier will launch daily service to Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) using Embraer E175 aircraft starting September 3. This smaller market currently generates about 90 passengers daily each way, with notably high average fares of $1,033 round-trip, with Delta holding 81% market share.
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL) Route: Beginning November 2, American will introduce twice-daily seasonal service to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This marks American’s return to the LaGuardia-Fort Lauderdale market after a 17-year absence, having last served it in April 2008. The route currently sees robust demand with 1,838 daily passengers each way at an average round-trip fare of $517, with traffic relatively evenly split between Delta (35%), JetBlue (34%), and Spirit Airlines (28%).

Photo: By Cory W. Watts from Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America – brAAnd new E175 for AA, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43511870

Route Discontinuations

As part of its network optimization, American Airlines will discontinue seven LaGuardia routes, likely in September 2025:

• Cincinnati (CVG): American currently holds a 22% market share on this route with 366 daily passengers each way and average fares of $515 round-trip. Delta maintains a 52% market share in this market.
• Dayton (DAY): Despite holding 52% market share on this route, American is exiting this smaller market that generates only 53 daily passengers each way with average fares of $589 round-trip.
• Knoxville (TYS): American currently holds 32% market share in this market with 163 daily passengers each way and relatively high average fares of $690 round-trip. Delta dominates with 66% market share.
• Louisville (SDF): This route sees 227 daily passengers each way with average fares of $602 round-trip. American currently holds 36% market share behind Delta’s 57%.
• Minneapolis (MSP): Despite the route generating 561 daily passengers each way with premium average fares of $795 round-trip, American’s 16% market share hasn’t justified continued operation against Delta’s overwhelming 76% dominance.
• Omaha (OMA): American currently holds 28% market share on this route with 188 daily passengers each way and high average fares of $804 round-trip, competing against Delta’s 58% share.
• Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ): American holds just 14% market share in this seasonal Florida market with 180 daily passengers each way and average fares of $679 round-trip, well behind Delta’s 68% share.

Photo: Glenn Beltz | Flickr

Northeast Market Strategy

American’s Chief Strategy Officer, Steve Johnson, confirmed with AirlineGeeks that the airline remains “intently focused on and are competing aggressively in New York and Boston” despite the termination of its Northeast Alliance with JetBlue. He noted that American has “added more than 20 new routes from LGA and JFK using the slots returned to us after the NEA ended.”

The carrier’s strategic approach appears to blend selective market entries in high-yield business markets (Atlanta, Madison) with leisure destinations (Charleston, Fort Lauderdale) while exiting routes where it faced significant competitive disadvantages against dominant carriers.

In addition to its LaGuardia adjustments, American Airlines is also enhancing its Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) network with new service to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) beginning September 3. This three-times-daily service using Embraer E175 aircraft will operate just under Reagan National’s perimeter limit of a 1,500-mile radius.

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