Summary
- American Airlines has delayed the resumption of its seasonal flights to Sonoma County Airport, but did not provide a specific reason for the delay.
- The airline plans to use larger Airbus A319 for these flights, which will increase capacity compared to current regional jets.
- 2023 has been a year of substantial network growth for American Airlines, with over 50 new routes announced and plans for further expansion in 2024.
American Airlines is set to temporarily halt its seasonal flights between Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW) and Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS) next month. The carrier will delay its resumption date by three months according to a report by The North Bay Business Journal.
Based on data from Flightradar24, American Airlines presently runs a daily flight to STS throughout the week from DFW. However, from December 4th, 2023, through May 6th, 2024, these flights are set to be temporarily halted. Initially, the airline had anticipated resuming operations on February 15th, 2025.
No clear explanation
The airport didn’t receive a specific reason for the delayed resumption of Sonoma County flights from the airline. At the same time, American Airlines cited the consideration of ‘multiple factors’ and indicated that there was “no specific reason to share.”
Surprisingly, however, the airline announced a change in aircraft for Sonoma County flights, opting for the Airbus A319 to accommodate more passengers. This will replace the current Embraer E175 regional jets, effectively increasing its capacity by over 60%.
Photo: Philip Pilosian | Shutterstock
According to ch-aviation data, American Airlines’ Airbus A319s can accommodate 128 passengers, while the Embraer E175s are configured to seat 76 passengers.
It is worth noting that only three US airlines currently provide service to Sonoma County: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Avelo Airlines. In October 2023, American flew 11,795 passengers through the regional facility, up 14.3% from a year earlier. Its load factor during this period was 87%.
According to the report, the airline is on course to conclude the year with approximately 630,000 passengers served, marking a modest 3% increase compared to the 615,000 passengers flown in 2022.
Busy months ahead
As 2023 approaches its end, American Airlines reflects on a year marked by substantial network growth. With November’s announcement of over 50 new routes, the airline continues to strengthen its extensive network both domestically and internationally.
Many of these new flights will commence during the upcoming winter season, and additional routes are set to be introduced in the summer of 2024. This winter season will have its largest-ever schedule for services to Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Latin America region.
Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying
In preparation for the summer of 2024, American Airlines has outlined additional routes. Among the notable additions unveiled this year, travelers can expect to see nonstop services to European destinations, connecting Philadelphia (PHL) to the following cities:
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Naples, Italy
- Nice, France
As part of its network expansion, the airline is also looking to increase its fleet size. Recent reports disclosed that American has finalized a deal to acquire ten Airbus A321neos, which were previously operated by Alaska Airlines.
American has the largest fleet globally and continues to review its fleet needs beyond 2024, with no planned retirements. The oneworld alliance member currently has more than 1000 aircraft in its fleet.
Sources: The North Bay Business Journal, ch-aviation, Flightradar24.com