Travel

American Airlines Launches 8 New Winter Routes to Latin America &Caribbean

As summer begins, travellers can start thinking ahead to their winter getaway by choosing from a wider range of American Airlines destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America.

With eight new routes and greater service starting in the winter of 2024, American will have more flights to more destinations in the region than any other U.S. carrier. This will further strengthen its industry-leading short-haul international network.

This winter, American will expand its network by adding seven new routes and adding service to one new destination, giving travellers the opportunity to visit both well-known and smaller places.

American Airlines is the only major American airline that flies to La Romana, Dominican Republic (LRM), and it is the only airline that serves St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVD). These two locations join more than 20 others in the area where American is the only major carrier offering nonstop service from the United States.

Departure Airport	Arrival Airport	Service Notes	Aircraft Type
Charlotte (CLT)	St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVD)	New Saturday-only service starting Dec. 7	Boeing 737
Miami (MIA)	La Romana, Dominican Republic (LRM)	New daily service starting Dec. 5	Airbus A319
New York (JFK)	Bridgetown, Barbados (BGI)	New daily service starting Nov. 5	Boeing 737
JFK	St. Lucia (UVF)	New Saturday-only service starting Dec. 7	Boeing 737
JFK	St. Maarten (SXM)	New Saturday-only service starting Dec. 7	Airbus A319
JFK	SVD	New Saturday-only service starting Dec. 7	Boeing 737
Philadelphia (PHL)	BGI	New Saturday-only service starting Nov. 9	Airbus A321
PHL	Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR)	New Saturday-only service starting Dec. 7	Boeing 737

More service on popular routes

American will provide extended seasons on several routes to the Caribbean and Latin America, giving consumers more options to schedule their winter excursions whenever they want to. The airline will run over 98% of its peak schedule to the area during the whole winter season. Beginning in December, American will expand service on sixteen popular routes.

Airlines

This European airline plans to scrap free food from its flights

Air France is set to trial the removal of free in-flight meals on two of its short-haul routes from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Lisbon and Helsinki, starting January 2025.

This shift toward a buy-on-board model follows a growing trend among European airlines, as carriers look to cut operational costs and explore alternative revenue streams. Under this trial, Air France economy passengers will still be offered a complimentary beverage and a small snack, but more substantial food options will be available for purchase onboard.

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Business class passengers, however, will not be affected by this change and will continue to enjoy a complimentary meal service, complete with a range of hot and cold drinks as well as alcoholic beverages.

The move mirrors similar strategies adopted by other European airlines, such as British Airways and Lufthansa, which have both transitioned to buy-on-board catering in recent years. Air France’s parent company, the Air France-KLM Group, hopes that this trial will help determine the feasibility of the buy-on-board model for short and medium-haul flights, potentially leading to further rollouts in the future.

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Traditionally, Air France has offered an edge over budget airlines like Ryanair and easyJet by providing a free drink and snack or sandwich on most of its economy flights. However, the ongoing shift toward paid meal options reflects a broader industry trend.

Many airlines have gradually reduced their complimentary catering services in a bid to lower costs and, theoretically, pass those savings on to passengers through lower ticket prices.

Ryanair was one of the first airlines to eliminate free in-flight meals on short-haul routes, justifying the change as a way to remove “unnecessary frills” and provide more affordable fares. British Airways followed suit in 2017, scrapping free meals on short-haul flights and introducing a buy-on-board catering system.