Going on vacation this summer just got a bit more interesting and fun. Airlines usually set their routes based on where their clientele will want to travel to, but sometimes they are not as savvy as they believe and they need to change courses and add or eliminate a new direct route. That has been the case for American Airlines, who did not predict on time that they would need to add a new direct route between Miami International Airport and Rome (FCO) to satisfy their customers.
Since COVID put a serious damper on both national and international travel, airlines have been scrambling to get back to their regularly scheduled operations, with one small issue. Travelers are not looking for the same things. A lot of people decided to move during COVID, either to be closer to their families or to a lower cost of living location that would afford them a better life, and so it stands to reason that the travel habits of a region have changed along with the demographics.
The new direct route to Rome has been an utter success, with more than 37,200 flights scheduled between May 16 and September 2, all to or from Miami International Airport, but this is not the only change that American Airlines is making to the routes from this Airport.
American Airlines changes to its routes from Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport is known for being a bit of a nightmare. It is quite big and it has served as an international hub for years, making it one of the biggest and most used airports in the US. Many people use it not just to go the city, but also to catch plenty of connecting flights as a stopover and since many of those connecting flights go from international to domestic and vice versa, it is easy to see why many would be overwhelmed by the amount of lanes, passageways, passengers and security checkpoints that need to be in place to ensure that travel and safety go as swift as possible.
And this is not an exaggeration, just in 2024, Miami International Airport was amongst the top ten airports by passenger volume, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. But since airports do not just transport passengers, and again, Miami is a prime spot for cargo transfer from international to domestic routes, it ranked as the fourth-largest airport in the country, based on tons handled, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Although most of the flights that got through the airport daily are domestic, its percentage of international flights is extremely high, with it being the airport that offers the most flights to Latin American countries and the Caribbean of any other airport in the United States. Part of it is proximity, as it is close but not too close and although it is farther than New York from Europe, it is still a very reasonable distance for those who need a layover.
Another reason why it is so popular is because of the number of cruises that depart from the city if Miami and its surrounding areas, which make it an even bigger hub. The airport generates an estimated $118 billion in commercial revenue annually and represents approximately 60% of international visitors to Florida.
It is no wonder that many airlines, including American Airlines, are expanding their offerings from this transportation hub to ensure that passengers can come and go a lot more easily and frequently from one of the most popular destinations in the world. After all, when it comes to air travel, convenience is key