American Airlines is set to significantly expand its international offerings for the summer of 2026, reintroducing popular pre-pandemic destinations and launching new routes to key cities in Europe and South America. Among the highlights are direct flights to Budapest and Prague, alongside first-ever service from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Athens, Greece, and a new year-round nonstop route between Miami and Milan.
The airline is also making strategic additions to support increased travel demand surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Seasonal service will connect Buenos Aires to Dallas and Dallas to Zurich, Switzerland—home to FIFA’s headquarters from May 21 to August 4, 2026. These routes are aimed at capitalizing on the surge in sports tourism and business travel during the global event, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
According to the airline’s senior vice president of network and schedule planning, these decisions are driven by strong demand trends and evolving traveler preferences. The airline observed a notable increase in Argentine travelers during the 2022 World Cup and anticipates even greater interest for the upcoming tournament. At the same time, European destinations such as Italy and Greece continue to show strong year-round appeal, with American Airlines identifying cities like Rome and Athens as major connection points for U.S. travelers.
The reintroduction of routes to Budapest and Prague from American’s Philadelphia hub is also timed to meet demand from cruise and tour passengers particularly those embarking on Danube River cruises. The airline noted that many travelers prefer to fly into one city and out of the other, making these paired destinations ideal for seamless travel experiences.
While many of these routes existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, American Airlines emphasized that this expansion is not simply a return to its 2019 route map. The airline has overhauled its network based on current demand rather than nostalgia for pre-pandemic operations. As the executive noted, “We’ve redesigned the entire airline based on today’s demand environment and not some desire to get back to 2019. Everything has changed.”
This strategic shift comes as American grapples with contrasting performance across markets. While unit revenue for domestic flights dropped 6.4% in the most recent quarter compared to 2024, revenue from trans-Atlantic travel rose 5%, underscoring the importance of strengthening international connectivity.
American will operate its newly announced flights with widebody aircraft. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner will be used for most new routes, while the Dallas-Zurich leg will be serviced by the Boeing 777-200.
