American Airlines Is Adding 8 New Caribbean Winter Routes

American Airlines is adding new routes and more flights to the Caribbean in time for a winter warm-weather escape.

The airline will add a total of eight new flights, including flying to a brand-new destination of La Romana in the Dominican Republic, according to American. The new flight, which will launch daily from Miami on Dec. 5, will be operated on an Airbus A319 aircraft and make American the only United States airline to fly directly to La Romana.

“Customers will have more reasons to choose American than ever before for nonstop fun in the sun this year,” Brian Znotins, American’s senior vice president of network and schedule planning, said in a statement. “We are excited to continue growing our network to the region with more flights this winter to the Caribbean and Latin America than any other U.S. carrier ever.”

In addition, American will add seven other new routes this winter: 

• Charlotte to St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Saturday-only service starting Dec. 7 on a Boeing 737
• New York to Barbados: Daily service starting Nov. 5 on a Boeing 737
• New York to St. Lucia: Saturday-only service starting Dec. 7 on a Boeing 737
• New York to St. Maarten: Saturday-only service starting Dec. 7 on an Airbus A319
• New York to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Saturday-only service starting Dec. 7 on a Boeing 737
• Philadelphia to Barbados: Saturday-only service starting Nov. 9 on an Airbus A321
• Philadelphia to Costa Rica: Saturday-only service starting Dec. 7 on a Boeing 737

In total, American said it will operate 11 percent more departures this winter, compared to the same time period last year. 

That’s buoyed by extra frequencies to popular destinations, like Chicago to Los Cabos, which the airline will increase to twice-daily service between Dec. 19 and Jan. 6, 2025; and Dallas to Nassau, which the carrier will increase to daily service starting Dec. 5.

The new routes come as American is planning to introduce a “preferred” front-row suite in its Flagship business class on the airline’s new Boeing 787-9 aircraft and on retrofitted 777-300 aircraft. It also comes months after the airline revamped its loyalty program, introducing “members-only” benefits for AAdvantage frequent fliers like free same-day standby for earlier domestic flights and free 24-hour ticket holds.