American Airlines Goes All In on Its Loyalty Program and Small Cities

American Airlines is rethinking its strategy. 

Rather than emphasizing capacity across long-haul international routes – like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines do — American is looking to small U.S. cities and its loyalty program to boost its bottom line. 

Since the pandemic, airline executives have mostly noted booming international travel. United announced orders for a slate of widebody jets in October as part of its ambitions to grow its extensive international network. It also added more routes to Asia. Delta ordered 40 Airbus A350s and expected another record summer for transatlantic travel. 

But American is forging its own path.

American chief commercial officer Vasu Raja said the airline has been taking note of changing population trends in the U.S., particularly in the Sun Belt region.  

While much of the U.S. travel market is concentrated among major coastal areas like New York, Los Angel