American Airlines Is Cutting These 5 U.S. Routes From Austin Airport

Passengers traveling from Austin will soon have fewer options for direct flights on a popular carrier. 

American Airlines recently confirmed to Travel + Leisure it will be discontinuing several routes, including nonstop flights to Las Vegas (LAS), Orlando (MCO), New Orleans (MSY), Reno (RNO) and Palm Springs (PSP). 

“As part of the continuous evaluation of our network, American will reduce service from Austin (AUS) starting in October,” an American Airlines spokesperson shared with T+L. “We’re proactively reaching out to impacted customers and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The last scheduled day for the non-stop flights to Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Orlando is Sunday, October 6. The Reno and Palm Springs route previously operated as a seasonal service and will not be returning.

American has aggressively modified its route network to increase business objectives, as company leadership previously outlined in an investor briefing. 

“We are taking this challenge head-on, with clear and decisive actions to deliver on a strategy that maximizes our revenue and profitability, and importantly, one that makes it easy for customers to do business with American,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said in a July 2024 earnings call. 

The news of the American route closures come just weeks after low-cost carrier Allegiant Airlines announced they would also be reducing routes and closing their crew base at the airport. Allegiant operates out of a terminal that will soon be closed for construction, which was a reported cause for the closure. 

The flight route adjustments do not seem to be a result of soft demand, as the Austin Airport achieved a record-level of passengers in 2023, with 22 million arriving and departing passengers. The airport is also currently expanding its Terminal B, and designing a new arrivals / departures hall.