While airlines plan several months ahead for new services and network expansion, some routes generate more excitement than others. American Airlines has announced several new routes later this year, including the first international flight out of Oklahoma City.

Nonstop to Cancun

OKC Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is all set to get its first international flight, thanks to American Airlines . From November 8, American will become the first airline to launch international service from the state of Oklahoma, with a non-stop flight to Cancún International Airport (CUN) in Mexico.

Getting its first international flight is a big milestone for any airport as well as the city it serves, and the local stakeholders are naturally very excited. 

Airports Director Jeff Mulder acknowledged American Airlines' contribution to achieving this milestone and noted that the airport’s customs facility is nearing completion.

American Airlines is no stranger to Cancun. In November, it has scheduled more than 40 peak-day flights from 19 destinations, and Oklahoma City will be one of them starting November 8.

The Oklahoma City-Cancun service will be once a week on Saturday, and American Airlines will deploy one of its Boeing 737 aircraft on the route. Tickets for this new flight will go on sale on March 31.

Other international destinations

American Airlines will offer several other services outside of the United States, from nearby options in Mexico and the Caribbean to popular spots in Europe. As part of its plans for travelers to get away to sunny locations next winter, American has also scheduled several new routes to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from Indianapolis, Nashville, Pittsburgh, and Raleigh-Durham.

Between December and January, the carrier will also offer up to four daily flights between Miami and Buenos Aires, Argentina, more than it has ever offered before. Between its hub at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Sao Paulo, Brazil, American will add over 40% more weekly flights compared to last winter season and will offer up to 10 daily flights to Brazil—more than any other airline.

Through service extension, capacity will also be added to multiple European destinations. Those planning European vacations in the fall and winter can use American’s extended services between Dallas-Fort Worth and Dublin, which will extend through January 6. This will be offered on a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane.

American will also extend service between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City and Barcelona, Spain through December 2. Those planning to travel between Philadelphia and Athens, Greece can also take advantage of the airline’s service extension through November 17.

Domestic expansion

Anticipating huge demand over the Thanksgiving holiday, American Airlines will expand service from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Hawaii, resuming service to Kona (KOA), and expand service to Kahului (OGG). It will offer over 15 daily flights between the US Mainland and Hawaii.

To connect more customers to its global network, American will also deploy planes on some strategic routes such as from Los Angeles (LAX) to Des Moines, Iowa (DSM), and from Phoenix (PHX) to Little Rock, Arkansas (LIT). These flights will launch on October 6.

The plan is to make it easier for customers to connect to American’s global destinations in Mexico, Australia, and Japan, among others from its western hubs.

The carrier has also planned a new seasonal service between Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT), and Aspen, Colorado (ASE), starting on December 19, for ski vacationers.