American Airlines is adding two new destinations to its domestic network for this winter, as part of a larger expansion that will add a total of seven new U.S. routes to the carrier’s lineup.
First, the airline will add its 17th destination in California, with a new route to Santa Maria (SMX) from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) launching on October 15. Santa Maria is a small city on California’s Central Coast that’s known for its wineries and specific style of barbecue, which features beef tri-tip slow-cooked over red oak wood. American will operate two flights per day year-round from PHX on board CRJ-900 aircraft, and it will be the only global carrier to serve the Californian city.
American will also launch brand new service to Sun Valley, Idaho (SUN), from both Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Phoenix (PHX) starting December 18. The Sun Valley region is situated among the Sawtooth Mountains and is known for its skiing. All flights to SUN will be operated by CRJ-700 aircraft outfitted with two cabins, giving travelers the option to upgrade to business class for a more premium experience. The seasonal route will run through April 6.
Adding more ski-bound flights to its network, American will start a new route to Aspen, Colorado (ASE) from North Carolina’s Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) this winter as well, and it will extend daily seasonal service between Chicago, Illinois (ORD) and Missoula, Montana, starting December 18.
Elsewhere, the carrier will launch two new services to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The first will be a daily year-round flight running from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF), starting October 6. Then, on December 18, American will start a seasonal flight from Chicago (ORD) that will operate daily through January 6, 2026.
The airline had previously announced new Hawaii routes that will launch this winter, including Chicago (ORD) to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), as well as Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to the Big Island’s Kona International Airport (KOA). So far, the carrier has added more than 50 new routes in 2025.
“American is focused on giving our customers the most options to pick the perfect vacation destination, and now there are even more ways to turn travel dreams into reality,” said Jason Reisinger, American’s managing director of global network planning.
Fares for all of the new flights go on sale June 30.
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