American Airlines
operates an extensive route network with its Boeing 737-800
fleet. According to aviation analytics company Cirium, the airline’s six longest 737-800 routes are domestic, while two additional long routes are international flights, connecting US cities to destinations in Latin America. Notably, American Airlines’ eight longest Boeing 737-800 flights span above 2,000 miles (3,218 km).
According to ch-aviation data, the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier currently operates a total of 303 Boeing 737-800 narrowbodies. It is worth noting that the aircraft can seat up to 172 passengers in a three-class cabin layout: 16 in business class, 24 in Main Cabin Extra, and 132 in Main Cabin. Powered by two CFM-56 engines, the Boeing 737-800 has the capability to fly as far as 3,115 nautical miles (5,765 kilometers), according to 
Boeing
.
This article will take a closer look at the carrier’s eight longest Boeing 737-800 flights, using the Cirium data for December 2024.
1
The Miami (MIA) to San Diego (SAN) route
Flight distance: 2,267 miles (3,648 km)
The route between Miami International Airport (MIA) and San Diego International Airport (SAN) is American Airlines’ longest flight flown on its Boeing 737-800 jet. According to Cirium, the domestic corridor connecting the US East Coast and West Coast spans 2,267 miles (3,648 km) and takes approximately five hours to cover the distance.
Photo: Great Circle Mapper
The airline will operate just one flight between the two cities, offering 172 seats and 389,924 available seat miles (ASMs) in December 2024. It is worth noting that American Airlines
is the sole carrier offering direct flights between Miami and San Diego.
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2
The New York (JFK) to Las Vegas (LAS) route
Flight distance: 2,248 miles (3,617 km)
Second on the list of American Airlines’ longest Boeing 737-800 aircraft routes is the New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Las Vegas International Airport (LAS) route, spanning 2,248 miles (3,617 km).
Photo: Great Circle Mapper
The Dallas Fort Worth-based carrier will offer 26 flights between the two cities in December 2024, the most services compared to any other route on this list. Notably, 26 flights will result in 4,472 seats offered and 10,053,056 available seat miles (ASMs) flown during the last month of the year.
American Airlines has three rival airlines offering flights on the same route, including Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways
, and Frontier Airlines. To operate on this route, Delta typically deploys its fleet of Airbus A321 or Boeing 717s. JetBlue uses its fleet of Airbus A321s, while ultra-low-cost Frontier Airlines utilizes its Airbus A321neos, according to Flightradar24.com data.
3
The Los Angeles (LAX) to Raleigh-Durham (RDU) route
Flight distance: 2,239 miles (3,603 km)
Third on the list is the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) corridor, connecting the US West Coast and the East. The route between the two cities covers 2,239 miles (3,603 km) and takes approximately four hours and 40 minutes to cover the distance.
Photo: Great Circle Mapper
In December 2024, American Airlines will provide 25 flights between the two cities on its Boeing 737-800 fleet, resulting in 4,300 seats offered. In addition, the carrier will log a total of 9,627,700 available seat miles during the Christmas holiday month.
In addition to American Airlines, Delta Air Lines offers direct operations between Los Angeles and Raleigh-Durham, using its fleet of Boeing 737-900ER aircraft.
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4
The Las Vegas (LAS) to Philadelphia (PHL) route
Flight distance: 2,176 miles (3,501 km)
Right in the middle is American Airlines’ route between Las Vegas International Airport (LAS) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), covering 2,176 miles (3,501 km). According to Flightradar24.com data, it takes approximately four hours and 40 minutes to cover the distance between the two cities using the Boeing 737-800 narrowbody.
Photo: Great Circle Mapper
During the last month of the year, American Airlines will operate just ten flights from Las Vegas to Philadelphia on its Boeing 737-800 aircraft, offering 1,720 seats. Additionally, the airline will accumulate 3,742,720 ASMs during the month.
It is worth noting that American Airlines is not the sole carrier offering flights from Las Vegas to Philadelphia. The low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines
also operates flights between the two US cities using its Airbus A320 aircraft fleet.
5
The Dallas (DFW) to San Juan (SJU) route
Flight distance: 2,165 miles (3,484 km)
The route between Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in Puerto Rico is American Airlines’ fifth longest corridor, operated using its Boeing 737-800s in December 2024. The international route connecting the carrier’s primary hub and the Puerto Rican city of San Juan covers 2,165 miles and takes about four and a half hours to reach the destination.
Photo: Great Circle Mapper
While this flight originates from American Airlines’ main hub at DFW, the carrier will operate just five flights to SJU Airport with its Boeing 737-800s in December 2024. It will offer 860 seats and 1,861,900 ASMs.
Once again, American Airlines is not the sole carrier serving the two cities. Spirit Airlines operates flights between Dallas (DFW) and San Juan (SJU), using its fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft. Unlike American Airlines’ Boeing 737-800s, Spirit Airlines’ Airbus A321neos are economy seat-heavy, with the ability to seat up to 235 passengers in a two-class cabin layout: eight in business class and 227 in economy class, according to ch-aviation data.
American Airlines was once a major player in San Juan, Puerto Rico, operating a bustling hub that served as a key connecting point for travelers across the Caribbean and beyond. However, the airline’s presence at San Juan’s SJU airport has drastically shifted over the years.
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6
The Miami (MIA) to Salt Lake City (SLC) route
Flight distance: 2,088 miles (3,360 km)
The Miami International Airport (MIA) to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) route covers 2,088 miles and ranks as the sixth longest in the American Airlines Boeing 737-800 route network.
Photo: Great Circle Mapper
According to Cirium data, the airline will operate 13 flights from Miami to Salt Lake City in December 2024, providing a total of 2,236 seats and 4,668,768 available seat miles (ASMs).
Notably, 
Delta Air Lines
is the sole carrier competing with American Airlines on this route. Delta offers flights between the two cities on its fleet of Boeing 737-900ERs, which can accommodate a total of 180 passengers in a three-class cabin configuration: 20 in business class, 21 in economy plus, and 139 in economy class.
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7
The Philadelphia (PHL) to Phoenix (PHX) route
Flight distance: 2,075 miles (3,339 km)
Seventh on the list is the corridor between Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), which spans 2,075 miles (3,339 km). According to Flightradar24.com data, covering the route takes approximately five hours on the Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Photo: Great Circle Mapper
Notably, this route is one of the least frequently flown by the Dallas Fort Worth-based airline on the Boeing 737-800. In December 2024, American Airlines will operate just two flights from Philadelphia to Phoenix. It will offer only 344 seats and accumulate 713,800 ASMs.
American Airlines is the sole operator offering service between Philadelphia (PHL) and Phoenix (PHX), Arizona.
8
The Chicago (ORD) to San Juan (SJU) route
Flight distance: 2,072 miles (3,334 km)
The route between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in Puerto Rico is only the second international route to make the list of American Airlines’ longest Boeing 737-800 routes.
Photo: Great Circle Mapper
The route between the two cities covers 2,072 miles (3,334 km) and ranks as the airline’s eighth longest route flown on the fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft. According to Flightradar24.com, reaching the destination takes about four and a half hours.
In December 2024, American Airlines will operate 25 flights from Chicago to San Juan, making it one of the most frequently serviced long routes on the Boeing 737-800 by the airline. Additionally, 25 flights will result in 4,300 seats offered and 8,909,600 available seat miles (ASMs) flown.
Not surprisingly, 
United Airlines
competes with American Airlines on this route, as Chicago O’Hare International Airport serves as United’s primary hub. It is worth noting that the low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines also operates flights on the same route, utilizing its Airbus A320neos, while United Airlines deploys its hefty fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft.
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