American Airlines Expands Boston Routes, Scales Back Miami Flights

BOSTON— American Airlines (AA) is adding a new nonstop service between Boston (BOS) and Buffalo (BUF), stepping into a market where it hasn’t operated since 2017.

At the same time, the airline is scaling back operations in Miami (MIA), ending its Sacramento (SMF) route that launched less than two years ago.

Photo: Alan Wilson | Flickr

American Airlines Boston to Buffalo Flight

American Airlines will begin operating the 396-mile Boston (BOS) to Buffalo (BUF) route on March 8, 2026.

The service will run up to three times daily and be operated by American Eagle carriers Envoy Air and Republic Airways. Both will deploy Embraer E175 aircraft configured with 12 first-class seats, 20 Main Cabin Extra seats, and 44 standard economy seats.

This move stands out because American rarely launches flights between two nonhub airports. JetBlue Airways (B6) has held a monopoly on this route since August 2023, after Delta Air Lines (DL) exited the market.

By entering now, American appears to be positioning itself as a challenger in a city where JetBlue has a significant presence and where Delta continues to compete aggressively.

Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – JetBlue Airways, N950JT, Airbus A321-231, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41996019

Competitive Dynamics in Boston

The Boston market has become one of the most hotly contested in the United States. Delta and JetBlue are locked in a constant battle for passenger share, and observers might have expected Delta to return to this route instead of American stepping in.

American previously had a cooperative relationship with JetBlue through the Northeast Alliance (NEA), which linked schedules and loyalty benefits across Boston and New York. The partnership, however, ended in 2023 after facing antitrust challenges, pushing both airlines back into direct competition.

According to Department of Transportation data analyzed by Cirium, JetBlue carried an average of 183 passengers daily on the Boston–Buffalo route, with an average fare of $178. American’s reentry into this space could alter pricing and competition dynamics.

Photo: By Sunnya343 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54438226

Miami Service Cuts

While expanding in Boston, American is reducing its network in Miami (MIA). The carrier will discontinue service to Sacramento (SMF) on January 5, 2026. The route, launched in December 2023 as part of a domestic expansion strategy, has not performed as expected.

American will continue to serve Sacramento (SMF) from its major hubs in Charlotte (CLT), Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), and Phoenix (PHX). This adjustment reflects the airline’s focus on profitable domestic demand while pruning underperforming routes.

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

Fleet and Market Implications

The use of Embraer E175 jets highlights American’s strategy to maintain schedule frequency while tailoring capacity to actual demand. Smaller regional aircraft allow the carrier to compete in contested markets like Boston–Buffalo without overcommitting capacity.

In Miami, cutting Sacramento frees up aircraft for higher-yielding routes and international operations, where the carrier maintains a strong footprint in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This reflects a broader trend of U.S. airlines carefully recalibrating their domestic portfolios while preserving competitive positioning in key markets.

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