American Airlines expands Latin American routes amid legal battle for Chicago gates

American Airlines has announced new routes for the upcoming winter season, focusing on expanding its network in Latin America from key hubs. The Fort Worth-based airline will introduce flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Mexico City and Queretaro, Mexico, and from Philadelphia International Airport to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

This move is part of American's strategy to enhance its presence in Central America. With a strong hub in Miami already providing extensive service to the region, American is now looking to increase demand at other hubs like Chicago and Philadelphia. The airline's Vice President of International and Inflight Dining Options commented on the expansion: "As the leading U.S. airline in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America, at American we’re focused on growing our network, giving our customers access to their favorite destinations in the region."

Despite facing challenges with profitability recently, American maintains a significant advantage over competitors with its large schedule to Central America. On peak days this winter, it plans over 430 daily departures to these regions.