Even though they are waiting on final government approval of its merger/takeover with/by US Airways, American Airlines is expanding their Los Angeles Airport services with nine new routes to and from LAX, announced AA in a statement released on Wednesday.
America's announcement becomes the second by a major airline for LAX in the past month, following an expansion plan that Delta announced in March.
"Our Los Angeles hub plays a vital role in our domestic and international network strategy," said Virasb Vahidi, AA's Chief Commercial Officer, said in a release.
According to Wednesday's press release the new routes are:
- Eugene, Ore. (begins June 12, to be operated by regional affiliate SkyWest)
- Redmond, Ore. (June 12, to be operated by regional affiliate SkyWest )
- Pittsburgh (Aug. 27)
- Indianapolis (Aug. 27)
- Columbus, Ohio (Aug. 27)
- Hartford, Conn. (Aug. 27)
- Bentonville, Ark., (Aug. 27, to be operated by AA's American Eagle affiliate)
These routes don't mention its LAX nonstop flights to Raleigh-Durham (service began April 2) and Sao Paulo, Brazil - which AA says would begin Nov. 21, pending regulatory approval.
The Los Angeles Times said that AA is targeting "big-spending business travelers" with its new LAX routes.
The Times, using expert studies for background information, stated "that business travelers book only about 15% of airline seats but generate nearly 30% of revenue because they typically purchase last-minute, high-price fares."
However, though LA is one of the largest airports in the country and one of, if not the most lucrative air travel market in the U.S., no one airline has been able to claim it as their own.
But, that doesn't bother AA, "We are less worried about being the biggest in L.A. but in being in the right markets," said, Schubert, the AA VP of network planning to the Los Angeles Times.
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