American Airlines is bringing commercial service back to a tiny airport on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Over the weekend, American filed plans to launch nonstop service later this year from Naples, Florida. The move would give travelers in Southwest Florida an alternative airport to the region’s main hub, and mark the return of commercial service to an airport that hasn’t had flights on a major U.S. carrier in decades.
American’s Naples Flights and AAdvantage Redemptions Are Open for Booking
American’s new service from Naples Airport (APF) will launch on Dec. 2, the city announced on Tuesday.
The destination: Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), American’s second-busiest hub.
Bookings are live now. Flights between Naples and CLT beginning Dec. 2 are available on American’s website, including AAdvantage award redemptions starting at 8,500 miles one-way.
Commercial Service Returns to Naples
The return of air service to Naples wasn’t entirely surprising. Earlier this month, the city announced survey results showing 8 in 10 residents favored bringing back commercial flights, and had noted at the time that American was hoping to launch two to three daily flights by December.
Naples, Florida. THEPALMER VIA GETTY IMAGES
Naples Airport is situated just miles from the Florida coast and minutes from popular Naples Beach. Over the past decade, the terminal has catered exclusively to general aviation flyers, and before that it hosted smaller regional carriers. It’s been nearly 20 years since Delta Air Lines’ departure from APF marked the end of Naples flights on a big-name airline.
The return of commercial service should offer a closer-to-home travel option for travelers who live south of Fort Myers, as well as for vacationers and seasonal residents flying into the area. Travelers can expect a classic small-airport experience, with parking and security taking just minutes.
“We’ve been asked for years about the potential return of airline service,” Naples Airport Authority executive director Chris Rozansky said in a statement Tuesday. “Travel doesn’t get more convenient for our residents and visitors than catching a flight out of Naples Airport.”
Commercial service is expected to launch after Naples completes a full renovation of its 45-year-old terminal, a project that has been ongoing since 2022.
An Alternative Airport Option in Southwest Florida
APF is located about 30 miles south of the far larger Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), and just 17 miles from Marco Island — a much shorter drive than the nearly 50-mile ride to the island from RSW.
From the outset, American’s presence in Naples will be fairly limited, with just two or three daily Charlotte flights, according to schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
American Airlines aircraft at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
The planes will be small: American plans to fly the route with an American Eagle Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet, which seats 65 passengers. However, because of American’s hub-and-spoke setup, that short CRJ flight can connect travelers to any U.S. city the airline serves from Charlotte, as well as European destinations like London, Paris, Rome, and Athens.
This isn’t American’s first time serving Naples — the carrier previously flew into APF about 25 years ago, in 2001. American is also no stranger to Southwest Florida more broadly, already operating flights from Fort Myers to most of its hubs, including Charlotte. The new Naples route adds a more convenient southern option for the region’s travelers beginning this December.
