American Adds 15 Domestic Routes

American Airlines is planning a domestic network expansion for summer 2026 with the addition of 15 routes, a mix of year-round and seasonal connections.

The expansion includes new service to Lincoln, Nebraska, which will become American’s 240th domestic destination. 

Beginning June 4, 2026, the airline will launch daily CRJ-700 service from Chicago to Lincoln, while Dallas/Fort Worth will gain twice-daily CRJ-700 flights to the city starting the same day. Phoenix will also see seasonal daily CRJ-700 service to Lincoln beginning in winter 2026.

United and Breeze currently serve Lincoln. 

Chicago Growth

In Chicago, American will add three new year-round routes. Daily CRJ-700 service to Erie, Pennsylvania, and daily Embraer 170 service to the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee will both begin May 21. 

American said it will operate more than 500 daily departures from Chicago next summer as part of its continued growth at the hub. The carrier recently acquired more gates at O’Hare from ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit. 

Boston will see two new routes starting June 18. American will launch year-round daily Embraer 175 service to Madison, Wisconsin, along with seasonal daily Embraer 175 flights to Nantucket, Massachusetts, operating through Sept. 8.

From Charlotte, the airline will begin daily year-round Embraer 175 service to Columbia, Missouri, starting June 4.

Doubling Down in Phoenix 

Phoenix will see the largest number of additions, with seven new routes planned. American will launch daily Embraer 175 service to Abilene and McAllen, Texas, as well as Rapid City, South Dakota, all beginning June 4. 

Seasonal daily Airbus A321neo service to Anchorage, Alaska, will begin May 21 and run through Sept. 8. The carrier last served this route in 2021, according to Cirium Diio schedule data.

The airline will also add seasonal daily Embraer 175 service to Bozeman, Montana, from June 4 through Sept. 8, along with twice-weekly CRJ-700 service to Kalispell, Montana, from June 19 through Sept. 6.

Additional routes include new daily CRJ-900 service from Dallas/Fort Worth to Roanoke, Virginia, beginning June 4. Miami will also gain seasonal service to Jackson, Mississippi, with once-weekly Saturday Embraer 175 flights operating from March 14 through Aug. 1.