FORT WORTH— American Airlines (AA) is boosting its transatlantic flight operations this winter with added capacity to Spain and an early resumption of key routes. Notably, the airline will upgrade aircraft and adjust schedules to better serve Madrid (MAD) and Barcelona (BCN).
From Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Philadelphia (PHL), American will deploy larger aircraft on flights to Madrid (MAD), while its Barcelona (BCN) service will resume much earlier than planned. Simultaneously, the airline is set to reintroduce service on the Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – Phoenix (PHX) route, last operated by American in 2020.
Photo: Anna Zvereva | FlickrAmerican Airlines Adds Capacity to Spain
In a strategic move to strengthen its European footprint during the peak winter holiday season, American Airlines (AA) is implementing key enhancements on its Spain routes as flagged by Ishrion Aviation:
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Madrid (MAD): From December 2 to January 5, American will operate the Boeing 777-300ER, providing increased capacity and a more premium product offering.
- Philadelphia (PHL) – Madrid (MAD): The route will see an upgrade from the Boeing 787-8 to the larger 787-9 aircraft during the same December 2 to January 5 window.
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Barcelona (BCN): Instead of launching in late March, this seasonal route will resume January 6, offering a longer winter operating season.
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD) – Madrid (MAD): The route returns March 7, also earlier than its traditional late-March restart.
American’s transatlantic presence continues to include New York JFK – Madrid (MAD) year-round. However, JFK – Barcelona (BCN) has been reduced to seasonal status since last year.
This increased presence comes amidst growing competition. Airlines like JetBlue (B6) now operate seasonal services on similar Spain routes, with Spirit (NK) and Southwest (WN) also offering increased winter options.
Photo: Cado PhotoFort Lauderdale–Phoenix Route Resumes
American Airlines (AA) will also reinstate daily service between Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Phoenix (PHX) starting mid-December 2025. The route was last operated by American in January 2020, and it was last served by any airline as recently as April 2025, Enilria reported.
Market Performance Snapshot:
- Passenger Demand (PDEW):
- YE March 2025: 308 passengers daily, average fare $691 round-trip
- YE March 2024: 261 passengers daily, average fare $621 round-trip
- Point of Sale (POS):
- Phoenix accounts for 59%, Fort Lauderdale for 41% of ticket sales.
- 2025 Market Share (YE March):
- JetBlue (B6): 23%
- Spirit (NK): 23%
- Southwest (WN): 23%
- American (AA): 18% in PHX market; JetBlue (36%) and Spirit (26%) lead FLL
- 2024 Market Share (YE March):
- Southwest: 30%
- Spirit: 27%
- American: 15%
Service Resumption Details:
- Flight Frequency: 0 flights/day in August 2025, rising to 2.4 flights/day in November 2025
- Average Daily Seats: 383 during November 2025
American’s return to the FLL–PHX corridor reflects its broader strategy to reclaim market share amid rising demand and competitive fares.
Bottom Line
American’s expansion in both transatlantic and domestic markets indicates an effort to maximize winter revenue potential while responding to growing competition.
The Spain routes, especially from DFW and PHL, are being fortified with widebody aircraft to accommodate holiday travel.
Meanwhile, the FLL–PHX relaunch shows American’s intention to challenge competitors like JetBlue, Spirit, and Southwest in high-demand domestic leisure markets.
Although there are calls among aviation observers for ORD–MAD to become a year-round route and for new destinations like Los Angeles (LAX) or Phoenix (PHX) to enter the Spain market, American has yet to confirm any such plans.
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The post American Airlines Adds More Flight Capacity to This European Country appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
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