Southwest Airlines made waves when it announced it would end its longstanding open-seating policy in January 2026, but it’s not the only major U.S. airline to make the change. American Airlines will also be making some changes in the coming year. Southwest’s shift caused a backlash from loyal customers, while American’s new product will likely receive a more positive response.
American Airlines is the world’s largest airline by most metrics, with a fleet of more than 1,000 aircraft operating from 10 hubs in the United States. The airline operated 151.7 million seats in the summer of 2025, beating out other big names like Delta Air Lines by a wide margin. Upcoming changes in 2026 will further expand American’s reach — and even die-hard fans of other airlines may find themselves making changes after checking out the changes underway.
With more nonstop routes to domestic and international destinations, new aircraft in the fleet with upgraded premium seating options and free inflight Wi-Fi for members, 2026 is shaping up to be a year to love.
Read more: 10 items not allowed on flights in 2025
AAdvantage members get free Wi-Fi
Airplane passenger holds a mobile phone and laptop on the tray table – Prathanchorruangsak/Getty Images
Currently, passengers flying on American Airlines can purchase in-flight Wi-Fi on most U.S. and international flights. Prices for a single flight are as low as $10, while frequent flyers can purchase a subscription for $49.95 per month or $599 per year.
Starting in January 2026, staying connected when flying with American Airlines will get even easier and cheaper. Thanks to its partnership with AT&T, the airline will now offer free Wi-Fi on all aircraft with Viasat and Intelsat satellite connectivity (approximately 90% of the fleet). With this change, American Airlines will offer free Wi-Fi on more flights than any other domestic airline.
To take advantage of this free Wi-Fi, you need to be a member of the AAdvantage loyalty program. But considering the program is free to join, it’s worth signing up if you know you want to be connected while flying. Registering on the American Airlines website takes just minutes before boarding your flight.
New direct routes for international passengers
A woman stands in front of her arrival boarding pass at Budapest International Airport – Urbazon/Getty Images
Direct flights can take the stress out of international travel and save you the hassle of rushing through an unfamiliar airport to connect. Thanks to American Airlines’ six new routes, you’ll have even more destination choices in the summer of 2026.
The most noteworthy nonstop service is the seasonal route from Philadelphia International Airport to Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport, which will launch on May 21, 2026. This will be the only direct service to Budapest from the United States, where dollars travel further. The new routes also include other European hotspots, including year-round direct flights from Miami to Milan starting in March 2026. Summer service from Dallas-Fort Worth to Athens and Philadelphia to Prague will begin in May.
The airline has also added some routes specifically for fans traveling to the United States to watch the World Cup. These include flights from Dallas-Fort Worth to Buenos Aires or Zurich, which will operate with limited hours from May 21 to August 4.
Tokyo service upgrade
American Airlines plane on the runway at Tokyo Haneda Airport – Arocha Jitsue/Shutterstock
In addition to adding new routes to Europe and South America, American Airlines also announced more premium options for flights to Tokyo. Starting March 29, travelers traveling to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport will have the option of daily flights from Dallas-Fort Worth and twice-daily flights from Los Angeles. Both routes will use Boeing 777 aircraft, a change from the 787-9 Dreamliner previously used. The number of premium seats will increase by 45% compared to summer 2025.
Passengers flying to Tokyo will not only have more seats, but also be more comfortable. The airline will add mattress and pajama options to all wide-body flights to Asia and Oceania. These features were once available on some flights but will cease to be available in summer 2024. This will make it easier to arrive at your destination well-rested, in addition to existing bedding options like wool blankets, slippers, and reversible pillows in cool-touch fabrics.
If you’re flying to Tokyo in American Airlines’ flagship business class, you don’t need to bring your own snacks, either. Tickets come with premium in-flight dining, including multi-course meals and wine. You can order meals up to 20 hours before departure, which is especially helpful for people who can’t eat certain foods for medical or religious reasons, but is a good option even if you don’t have dietary restrictions.
Expand domestic routes
American Airlines plane flies through Jackson Hole Airport – Ceri Breeze/Getty Images
International travelers aren’t the only ones who will have more options next year. All told, American will add more than 30 routes in the summer of 2026, five of which will be new routes and several others expansions of existing services. The new routes will depart from hubs in Dallas-Fort Worth and New York, focusing primarily on weekend getaway destinations.
The first of the new domestic routes will launch on February 13, connecting New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Jacksonville, Florida; Savannah, Georgia; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. All of these routes will depart New York on Friday and Saturday, with return flights on Saturday and Sunday. American Airlines has not offered service to LaGuardia-Jacksonville since 2017 and last offered service to Savannah in 2021.
Other new routes will be launched in summer 2026. For anyone in the Northeast planning to check out the best backpacking trails in Grand Teton National Park, this trip just got a whole lot easier. On June 18, the airline will resume nonstop service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with daily flights until October 4. Flights between Dallas-Fort Worth and Gunnison, Colorado, will also be extended from June 18 to September 8.
Boeing 787-9P cabin redesign and flagship suite
Business class window seat on a 787-9P aircraft – The Points Guy-Departures / YouTube
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has been part of American Airlines’ fleet since 2016 and is used on many of its transatlantic and transpacific flights. In mid-2025, the airline launched a new version of the jet, the 787-9P, featuring its latest business-class offering: the Flagship Suite. These suites are well-appointed with sliding doors, more personal space, seats that convert to 79-inch lie-flat beds, and useful technology such as Qi wireless charging pads, AC and USB outlets, and 17.5-inch touchscreen TVs.
Each 787-9P has 83 premium seats, including 51 flagship suites and 32 premium economy recliners. Premium seating capacity has increased by a total of 65% compared to the previous version. For those who don’t want to splurge on premium upgrades, the new planes also add some extras to economy class, such as Bluetooth-enabled 11.5-inch TVs and AC, USB-A and USB-C outlets in each seat for charging devices.
American Airlines will begin using the new 787 on its Chicago to London route in July 2025. In October, the service expanded to London flights from Philadelphia and Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as the airline’s daily flights from Dallas to Brisbane and Buenos Aires. The airline will deploy 30 787-9Ps to its fleet on additional routes in 2026, including daily service from Dallas-Fort Worth to Oakland starting on January 5.
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