According to reports by Simple Flying and Cirium, American Airlines is set to make a significant shift in its operations on the popular Miami International Airport (MIA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) route. This fall, the airline will transition all flights on this route to be operated by narrowbody aircraft.
This strategic change marks a departure from American Airlines’ long-standing practice of utilizing widebody aircraft for this route, a tradition that spans decades. The decision will result in the discontinuation of the airline’s most premium offerings, Flagship First and Flagship Business, as these services are not available on narrowbody planes.
Aviation data and analytics firm Cirium indicates that the equipment changes will be implemented in September, following the busy summer travel season. Historically, American Airlines has frequently deployed its widebody fleet—including the Boeing 777-200ER, 777-300ER, 787-8, and 787-9 Dreamliner—on the MIA-LAX route.
MIA serves as American Airlines’ South American gateway hub, with additional flights to Europe, while LAX supports long-haul flights to Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. The use of larger aircraft between these two hubs has not only provided increased capacity but also strategically positioned the planes for their respective international routes.
This operational adjustment reflects a notable shift in American Airlines’ approach to managing its fleet and route efficiency, possibly driven by evolving market demands and logistical considerations.