American Airlines resumes LAX-PIT service amid competition with Breeze Airways

American Airlines' reentry into this market will place it in direct competition with Breeze Airways, which also operates flights between these two cities using Airbus A220-300 aircraft. Breeze Airways is recognized for its affordable fares and point-to-point strategy. The competition is expected to focus on pricing, flight frequency, and passenger amenities.

Cirium's data from April through August provides a comparison of operations planned by both airlines. American Airlines demonstrates a strong commitment to the route with higher frequency and capacity compared to Breeze Airways. For example, in April alone, American has planned for 54 flights offering nearly 19.8 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs), while Breeze has scheduled only 24 flights providing just over seven million ASMs.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft used by American Airlines are noted for their efficiency and capacity advantage over Breeze's Airbus A220-300 planes. Overall, American plans to operate a total of 300 flights both ways between April and August compared to Breeze’s plan of operating only 178 flights during the same period.

The Boeing fleet of American Airlines consists of planes averaging an age of about 15 years with seating configurations that include First Class seats among others. Meanwhile, Breeze Airways operates newer Airbus A220s averaging an age of just under two years.

Demand for travel between Los Angeles and Pittsburgh is anticipated to increase, leading travelers to expect competitive pricing along with enhanced services from both carriers. Additionally, American Airlines has announced network expansions including routes to Athens (Greece), Madrid (Spain), Milan (Italy), Rome (Italy), as well as resuming services previously halted since 2019 like those going towards Edinburgh (Scotland).