Which 7 New Cities Will American Airlines Fly to from Phoenix Sky Harbor?

American Airlines is significantly expanding its domestic network for 2026. The carrier announced seven new and resumed nonstop routes from its hub at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). This expansion is part of a larger, strategic focus on regional connectivity across the United States.

Six of the routes are new cities for Sky Harbor. The seventh route is a popular seasonal service being reintroduced. The new flights aim to balance growing demand for leisure travel with key business connections.

Seven New Routes from Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)

The expansion includes a mix of daily, seasonal, and year-round services. The new destinations connect Arizona travelers directly to the Mountain West and the Heartland.

• Anchorage, Alaska (ANC): Daily seasonal service restarts May 21. This route will use a larger Airbus A321neo aircraft.
• Bozeman, Montana (BZN): Daily seasonal service begins May 21 and runs until September 8. Bozeman is a primary gateway to Yellowstone National Park.
• Abilene, Texas (ABI): Year-round daily service starts June 4. This route supports a growing technology center.
• McAllen, Texas (MFE): Year-round daily service also begins June 4. McAllen offers access to the South Texas space industry hub.
• Rapid City, South Dakota (RAP): Daily seasonal service runs from June 4 to October 4. This city is near Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park.
• Kalispell, Montana (FCA): Twice-weekly seasonal service begins June 19, operating Fridays and Sundays. Kalispell is the gateway to Glacier National Park.
• Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK): Daily seasonal service is expected to begin in October 2026. This route targets the winter season.

Many of the new routes will be operated by American’s regional partners, utilizing aircraft like the Embraer E175 and Bombardier CRJ-700. These regional connectivity jets are key to serving smaller markets efficiently.

Strategic Drivers: Leisure and Business

American Airlines designed this AA domestic expansion to capture two distinct market segments. Half the routes cater to the persistent demand for outdoor and national park travel.

Bolstering National Park Access

Nonstop flights to Bozeman, Kalispell, and Rapid City directly serve major US landmarks. Bozeman is the closest airport to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Kalispell is a short distance from Glacier National Park. Rapid City provides easy access to Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

This strategy provides a competitive advantage. It offers customers one-stop access to popular Phoenix to national parks destinations. Previously, many of these cities required a connecting flight from PHX.

Connecting Emerging Business Hubs

The other half of the expansion focuses on business travel routes to rapidly growing economic centers. The year-round service to Abilene and McAllen, Texas, highlights this focus. Abilene is the planned site for a major artificial intelligence data center. McAllen is located near Starbase, the SpaceX launch site in South Texas.

Similarly, the new service to Lincoln, Nebraska, is a strategic move. American Airlines staff noted that Lincoln is a “growing center for innovation, business and education.” The airline is connecting these secondary cities to its global network through the American Airlines Phoenix Sky Harbor hub.

Industry Context and Airport Growth

This network growth reinforces Phoenix Sky Harbor’s role as a critical Western hub. The expansion is part of a broader trend of airlines restoring service to mid-sized markets. Many of these markets lost service after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Industry data suggests a steady, normalized growth in US passenger enplanements for 2026. S&P Global estimates average growth rates at 1.6% for 2026–2027. This indicates a focus on targeted, opportunistic growth by major carriers like American. The expansion of the PHX new routes 2026 is a clear example of this strategy.

PHX is also preparing for future growth. The airport is fast-tracking plans for a new terminal. The new facility is now expected to open by 2033, several years earlier than originally planned. This infrastructure investment supports the airline's long-term commitment to the Phoenix hub.