American Airlines
, the largest carrier at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
, is using some of its smallest aircraft on its service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
. The move comes after the airline primarily operated mainline aircraft between the two destinations during the same period last year, offering just over 10,300 more seats.

With a hub at PHX, American can easily deploy mainline planes to SEA. However, the shift could be an indication of its fleet strategy and partnership with Alaska Airlines
.

Envoy & SkyWest to the front

Since the beginning of the year, American has primarily been utilizing the Embraer E175
and Bombardier CRJ700
on the route, according to aviation data and analytics firm Cirium. The former have either been operated by Envoy Air, the carrier’s wholly-owned regional subsidiary, or SkyWest Airlines, while the latter has only been operated by SkyWest.

Interested in this route? Find flights between Phoenix & Seattle right here!

The only mainline aircraft that has been scheduled on the route this year is the Airbus A319
. Data shows that the plane operated just 10 out of a total of 155 frequencies between PHX and SEA in January of this year. It would then be another five months before its next appearance on the route.

American Airlines Airbus A319-132 (N802AW) landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

In June, the aircraft was scheduled on 52 flights, while the E175, combined between Envoy and SkyWest, handled the remaining 128 frequencies. The A319 then performed a total of eight flights in July – four in each direction. The aircraft is not expected to return to the route until December, in which, it will only fly on one day during the month. After that, the plane – and no other mainline aircraft – is not scheduled to operate between the two destinations until June 2025, according to data.

Comparison to 2023

With just the E175s and CRJ700s, American has had a significant reduction in seat capacity
on the route. This month, it is exclusively operated by the E175, and Envoy will be the primary operator. Out of a total of 174 frequencies scheduled, the airline will handle a whopping 168 flights, while SkyWest has six scheduled frequencies. Together, the operation results in a total of 13,224 seats offered and 14,638,968 available seat miles (ASMs).

American Eagle (Envoy Air) Embraer E175 N314AD.

Photo: Envoy Air

The numbers are a stark contrast to American’s operation during the same month last year. In 2023, the carrier operated 180 flights, which provided 23,558 seats and 26,078,706 ASMs. However, Envoy’s E175 only handled 62 flights. The remaining 118 frequencies were operated by mainline aircraft. American used the A319, A321, A321neo, and Boeing 737-800 on the route.

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This month, the Fort Worth, Texas-based airline is offering 10,334 fewer seats between PHX and SEA. Simple Flying contacted the carrier to learn its reasoning behind the seat deductions, but representatives could not be reached.

Alaska with the most flights & seats

The popular route has a total of five airlines serving it, with Alaska, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines being the other contenders. However, Alaska is a member of the oneworld Alliance and has a codeshare agreement
with American, which could suggest why American reduced its seating capacity.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-990 (N320AS) departing from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock

Alaska, understandably, is the largest carrier on the route, offering more than 93,200 seats across a total of 539 flights this month.

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