American Airlines (AA) ‘s international network has long been rooted in Latin America and the Caribbean, and that focus is more apparent than ever in 2025. Of the airline’s top 20 busiest international routes, 18 connect the U.S. to Latin America and the Caribbean, leaving just two transatlantic links in the mix.
Miami (MIA) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) serve as the primary gateways, accounting for 13 of the top 20 routes. These hubs are vital to AA’s ability to maintain high-frequency services to short- and medium-haul international destinations, where volume, frequency, and cultural ties matter just as much as yields.
Cancun, the Crown Jewel of Leisure Demand
It’s no surprise that Cancun (CUN), Mexico’s busiest international airport, is at the top of the list—and not just once. Three of American’s top 20 busiest international routes connect to Cancun from Dallas (DFW), Miami (MIA), and Charlotte (CLT). Combined, these three routes total over 539,000 monthly seats across nearly 3,000 flights.
The route between Dallas and Cancun alone contributes nearly a quarter-million seats and over 250 million available seat miles (ASMs), leading the entire international network in volume. This speaks to American’s deep penetration into the Mexico-Caribbean leisure corridor, especially as U.S. travelers continue seeking warm-weather, short-haul international destinations in the post-pandemic era.
Cancun’s consistent performance also allows AA to use a mix of aircraft from Airbus A321s and Boeing 737s to widebodies during peak periods, to match capacity with seasonal surges.
Miami: The Latin American Superhub
Nowhere is American Airlines’ Latin American dominance more visible than in Miami. Nine of the 20 busiest international routes operate out of MIA, with destinations including Havana, Santo Domingo, San Jose, Nassau, Guatemala City, Mexico City, Kingston, Punta Cana, and São Paulo.
The MIA–Havana route ranks second overall in the network by flight count and seats, with 1,330 flights and over 214,000 monthly seats. Though it ranks much lower in ASMs due to the short stage length, the frequency reflects the strong VFR (visiting friends and relatives) demand and regulatory framework that has shaped the U.S.–Cuba service.
Other high-frequency routes to Santo Domingo, San Jose, and Kingston also highlight how Miami functions as a conduit between the U.S. and Caribbean diaspora communities, along with burgeoning leisure markets. Many of these flights are operated by narrowbody aircraft, allowing for multiple daily departures and tight schedule connectivity.
Even relatively short hops like Miami to Nassau at just 86,000 seats, make the list due to the sheer number of daily operations with over 600 monthly flights.
Dallas/Fort Worth: Feeding Mexico and the Pacific Coast
Dallas/Fort Worth, American’s largest hub by daily departures, provides the backbone for its Mexico and Central America strategy. Four of the top 20 international routes depart from DFW: Cancun, Mexico City, San Jose del Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta.
These cities are not only popular vacation spots but also significant business and trade centers. The DFW–Mexico City route, with 865 flights and more than 140,000 seats, remains essential despite increasing competition and bilateral constraints. The DFW–San Jose del Cabo route is particularly interesting—it ranks sixth in seat volume and surpasses Mexico City in ASMs, suggesting longer stage lengths and consistent premium demand from Texas.
Puerto Vallarta rounds out the group, providing vital access to Mexico’s west coast leisure market. These routes benefit from DFW’s central geography, which allows American to efficiently connect passengers from across the U.S. to Mexico and beyond.
Moreover, while Miami and Dallas dominate international flying by volume, Charlotte-Douglas (CLT) quietly supports a sizable share of Caribbean operations. Three of American’s top 20 busiest routes link CLT with Punta Cana, Cancun, and Montego Bay—three high-yield leisure destinations.
Two Transatlantic Routes: London and Buenos Aires
Only two routes on the list cross the Atlantic or South Atlantic, but both are heavyweights. London-Heathrow (LHR) appears twice: once from JFK and once from DFW. Despite being fewer in number than regional routes, these transatlantic services pack a punch in ASMs.
DFW–LHR tops the list in ASMs at 830 million for March—by far the most capacity American deploys on any international route. JFK–LHR follows closely in both ASMs and seats, benefiting from corporate demand and connectivity through British Airways, American’s joint venture partner in the transatlantic market.
Miami–Buenos Aires (EZE) and Miami–São Paulo (GRU) rank 20th and 19th by flight count, respectively. Both of these routes cater to both business travel and VFR traffic in two of South America’s most critical economies.
| Rank | Route | Flights | Seats | ASMs |
| 1 | Cancun (CUN) – Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | 1,354 | 246,496 | 253,644,384 |
| 2 | Havana (HAV) – Miami (MIA) | 1,330 | 214,504 | 50,408,440 |
| 3 | Santo Domingo (SDQ) – Miami (MIA) | 867 | 149,124 | 126,457,152 |
| 4 | Mexico City (MEX) – Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | 865 | 141,344 | 132,156,640 |
| 5 | Cancun (CUN) – Miami (MIA) | 850 | 143,628 | 76,266,468 |
| 6 | San Jose del Cabo (SJD) – Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | 786 | 147,540 | 150,933,420 |
| 7 | Cancun (CUN) – Charlotte-Douglas (CLT) | 786 | 149,064 | 155,175,624 |
| 8 | San Jose (SJO) – Miami (MIA) | 701 | 120,572 | 134,678,924 |
| 9 | Punta Cana (PUJ) – Charlotte-Douglas (CLT) | 660 | 122,628 | 169,349,268 |
| 10 | London-Heathrow (LHR) – New York-JFK (JFK) | 640 | 180,548 | 623,251,696 |
| 11 | Nassau (NAS) – Miami (MIA) | 616 | 86,328 | 15,798,024 |
| 12 | Montego Bay (MBJ) – Charlotte-Douglas (CLT) | 598 | 113,404 | 132,229,064 |
| 13 | London-Heathrow (LHR) – Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | 592 | 174,785 | 830,403,535 |
| 14 | Puerto Vallarta (PVR) – Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | 572 | 103,712 | 101,741,472 |
| 15 | Guatemala City (GUA) – Miami (MIA) | 548 | 94,256 | 95,858,352 |
| 16 | Mexico City (MEX) – Miami (MIA) | 540 | 92,880 | 118,514,880 |
| 17 | Kingston (KIN) – Miami (MIA) | 540 | 91,472 | 53,602,592 |
| 18 | Punta Cana (PUJ) – Miami (MIA) | 540 | 94,680 | 86,158,800 |
| 19 | Sao Paulo (GRU) – Miami (MIA) | 536 | 152,023 | 619,037,656 |
| 20 | Buenos Aires (EZE) – Miami (MIA) | 535 | 144,460 | 636,346,300 |
Bottom Line
American Airlines’ top 20 busiest international routes in 2025 reveal a tightly focused, frequency-driven network anchored in Latin America and the Caribbean. Miami remains the heart of the action, while Dallas/Fort Worth and Charlotte provide regional depth and diversification.
The presence of just a handful of long-haul flights in the top 20 does not indicate a weakness but rather a deliberate strategy: American leans into routes where it has cultural relevance, geographic advantage, and long-term relationships with local markets.
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Data Sourced from Cirium Diio
