American Airlines adding and expanding 10 routes from Austin, Texas

American Airlines is growing and expanding 10 routes from Austin, Texas, south of its Dallas hub.
Point-to-point routes completely bypass American hubs and offer more convenient nonstop options.
Large corporations have moved to Austin in recent years as part of an exodus from California.
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American Airlines is preparing for the summer of vaccinated travel and has its sights set on Texas, but not on its usual hub in Dallas.

Austin, Texas, is receiving 10 routes this spring and summer with the goal of increasing the number of leisure passengers and the promising return from business travel. The Texas capital has been the preferred destination for the technology exodus from California and Silicon Valley, including Elon Musk’s Tesla, opening up a new market for wealthy business and leisure travelers for airlines.

“It will be the biggest boomtown that America has seen in 50 years, at least – megaboom,” said Musk in an interview with Joe Rogan.

Austin residents can now take a nonstop flight to most American centers, but will now be able to fly directly to wherever they want. Most flights to destinations in this expansion would require a connection to Dallas, Charlotte, Chicago, Phoenix or Miami, for example.

Austin’s popularity has increased with airlines in recent years, as the city has grown into the Texas Silicon Valley, now known as the “Silicon Hills”. Delta Air Lines considers Austin a focus city, while low and ultra low cost airlines like Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air have also built bases in the city.

Foreign carriers were also migrating to Austin before the pandemic hurt international travel. British Airways, Lufthansa and KLM Royal Dutch had launched or planned flights between Austin and major European cities such as London, Frankfurt and Amsterdam.

This is where American Airlines will fly from Austin later this year.

Between Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee

American will launch flights between Austin and Nashville, Tennessee, on May 6. The new service will begin once a day, with a morning flight from Nashville to Austin and a return flight in the afternoon, and will double the daily service with a morning and night flight in each direction on July 2.

Southwest Airlines will be American’s main competition on the route, offering up to four daily round trips between the two cities on its Boeing 737 aircraft. Spirit Airlines offered flights on the route in 2020, but has yet to announce a return for 2021.

American will be operated by Republic Airways Embraer E175 regional aircraft.

Between Austin, Texas and Las Vegas

American will launch flights between Austin and Las Vegas on May 6. The new service will start as once a day with a morning flight from Las Vegas to Austin and a return flight at night.

On June 3, the route will have two daily flights with afternoon and evening flights to Las Vegas complemented by morning and evening flights to Austin. The flights will operate with American’s mainline Boeing 737 aircraft.

American will see more competition on this route, as Southwest, Spirit, Allegiant and Frontier Airlines offer a combination of low-cost and ultra-low flights between the two cities.

Between Austin, Texas and Orlando, Florida

American will launch daily flights between Austin and Orlando, Fla., On May 6, updating its current status route once a week. The daily route will have an afternoon departure from Austin accompanied by a late afternoon return from Orlando.

The flights will be operated on American’s Boeing 737 aircraft, an upgrade of the Embraer E175 regional aircraft currently used in service only on Saturdays.

Another popular route from Austin, American will see competition from JetBlue Airways, Southwest, Spirit and Frontier. Allegiant Air also offers flights to Orlando Sanford International Airport, in the north of the city.

Between Austin, Texas and New Orleans

American will launch flights between Austin and New Orleans on May 6. The new daily service will feature a morning flight from New Orleans to Austin, complemented by an evening flight from Austin to New Orleans.

The flights will be operated by Republic Airways Embraer E175 regional aircraft. Only two other airlines do the route, including Spirit and Southwest.

Between Austin, Texas and Raleigh, North Carolina

American will launch flights between Austin and Raleigh, North Carolina, on July 2. The new service will begin once a day with a morning flight from Austin to Raleigh and a return flight in the afternoon.

On August 17, flights are increased to twice a day with a late afternoon flight from Austin to Raleigh accompanied by a return flight in the evening. The flights will be operated by American Embraer E175 regional aircraft from Republic Airways.

American will see competition from JetBlue, Delta and Southwest on this route filled with business travelers. From Raleigh, however, American airmen were also able to travel to London in pre-pandemic times, as the airline operated a daily flight to the UK capital.

Between Austin, Texas and Tampa, Florida

American will launch flights between Austin and Tampa, Florida on June 3. The new service will begin once a day with a late afternoon flight from Austin to Tampa and a return flight in the evening.

Two airlines offer competition on the route, as Frontier and Southwest already fly between the two cities. American’s flights will operate with Airbus A319 aircraft.

Between Austin, Texas and Washington, DC

American will launch flights between Austin and Washington, DC on August 17. The new service will use Washington Dulles International Airport and will start flights twice a day immediately.

A morning and afternoon flight will be offered from Austin to Washington, while an afternoon and evening flight will be offered in the opposite direction. The flights will be operated on American Airbus A319 aircraft.

United Airlines is American’s main competition on the route, as Washington is a hub for United. Southwest also offers flights between Austin and Washington via Ronald Reagan National Airport, the airport closest to the city center.

Between Austin, Texas and Aspen, Colorado

American will launch flights between Austin and Aspen, Colorado on June 5, with flights only on Saturdays until September 4. A morning flight will be offered in both directions operated by SkyWest Airlines’ Bombardier CRJ700 regional aircraft.

Those who do not wish to travel to or from Aspen on any other day of the week can connect to American hubs in Chicago or Dallas. No other airline currently serves this route, leaving American without direct competition.

Between Austin, Texas and Los Cabos, Mexico

American will continue flights between Austin and Los Cabos, Mexico, from June 5 to August 14, with service only on Saturdays. A morning flight will be offered from Austin to Los Cabos complemented by a return flight in the late afternoon, both operated by Airbus A319 aircraft.

No other airline operates flights on the route, leaving American without direct competition.

Between Austin, Texas and Destin, Florida

American will launch flights between Austin and Destin, Florida, on June 5, with flights only on Saturdays until August 14. A morning flight will be offered from Austin to Destin complemented by an afternoon return flight, both operated by Republic Airways Embraer E175 regional aircraft.