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American Airlines has unveiled its international expansion plans for the summer 2026 travel season, announcing six new routes to cities in Europe and South America. The airline will also boost its presence in Asia with a significant increase in premium seating options on Tokyo routes.
American Airlines New Routes – Europe and South America
For summer 2026, American will launch new service to six destinations in Central Europe and South America. These flights will begin on May 21, 2026, and operate through the summer using Boeing 787-8 and 777-200 aircraft. The routes will operate during the FIFA World Cup in North America and are expected to facilitate travel for fans.
- Philadelphia (PHL): Budapest, Hungary (BUD), and Prague, Czech Republic (PRG). American will be the only U.S. airline offering nonstop service to Budapest.
- Dallas Fort Worth (DFW): Athens, Greece (ATH), Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH), Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE)
- Miami (MIA): Milan, Italy (MXP), this will be a year-round service starting March 29, 2026 and follows the introduction of Miami–Rome service in summer 2025
With the addition of Budapest and Prague, American will operate 20 transatlantic routes from its Philadelphia hub in 2026. Passengers travelling through PHL can also take advantage of the recently opened Flagship® Lounge and Admirals Club®, offering upgraded amenities and dining options before departure.
Admirals Club Dining PHL (Credit: AA)
Premium Cabin Growth to Tokyo
On routes to Asia, American will increase its premium seating capacity to Tokyo Haneda (HND) by more than 45% compared to summer 2025. Starting March 29, 2026, the carrier will operate:
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Daily Boeing 777-300ER service between DFW and HND
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Twice-daily Boeing 777-200ER service between LAX and HND
These routes will feature an upgraded Business Class experience that includes pyjamas, mattress pads, multi-course chef-curated meals, award-winning wines, and premium snacks.
American Airlines Flagship Business (Credit: AA)
Aircraft and Schedule Summary
| Route | Start Date | Frequency/Notes | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFW – Athens (ATH) | May 21, 2026 | Summer seasonal | Boeing 787-8 |
| DFW – Zurich (ZRH) | May 21 – Aug 4 | Summer seasonal | Boeing 777-200 |
| DFW – Buenos Aires (EZE) | May 21 – Aug 3 | Seasonal extension | Boeing 787-8 |
| MIA – Milan (MXP) | March 29, 2026 | Year-round | Boeing 787-8 |
| PHL – Budapest (BUD) | May 21, 2026 | Summer seasonal | Boeing 787-8 |
| PHL – Prague (PRG) | May 21, 2026 | Summer seasonal | Boeing 787-8 |
| DFW – Tokyo Haneda (HND) | March 29, 2026 | Daily | Boeing 777-300 |
| LAX – Tokyo Haneda (HND) | March 29, 2026 | Twice daily | Boeing 777-200 |
Featured Image Credit: American Airlines
2 comments
They have new 787s arriving this year and next year as well as A321XLs. AA can finally grow.
I’m happy with the additions. What I’d like to know is what routes these planes are getting pulled from to make this happen.