American Airlines to launch Dubrovnik next June

The world's largest carrier, American Airlines, will introduce seasonal summer flights from its Philadelphia hub to Dubrovnik next year. The three weekly service will operate from June 7 until September 27, 2019 with the 209-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, featuring 28 business flat-bed seats, 21 in premium economy (Main Cabin Extra) and the remaining 160 seats in standard economy. Dubrovnik will be launched together with new seasonal services to Edinburgh, Bologna and Berlin. “Through our Atlantic Joint Business, we have seen increased interest to these markets from the US, and adjusting our network to introduce these destinations will provide more choices for customers on both sides of the Atlantic”, American Airlines' Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, Vasu Raja, said.

As previously reported, American Airlines has been in talks with Dubrovnik Airport over the new service for some time. The carrier currently codeshares on flights from Madrid and London to the Adriatic city via its partners Iberia and British Airways. "This is creating new markets that really no one flies. Even though no one flies it, there isn't the kind of risk that would normally be in a prospect market because, in fact, for years we have operated these markets with a connection in London. So we have some understanding how these markets perform and behave", Mr Raja said. He added, "This is going to create a tonne of new markets, a tonne of new origin and destination connections for our customers and we are excited for the future of Philadelphia".

American Airlines B767-300ER business class cabin

The new service will mark the resumption of flights between Dubrovnik and the United States after more than 25 years. Prior to the breakup of Yugoslavia, both JAT Yugoslav Airlines and Pan Am maintained seasonal flights between Dubrovnik and New York. The route also marks the first scheduled long haul service from Dubrovnik in decades and the first scheduled service between Croatia and the United States since the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Philadelphia is the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania which counts the biggest Croatian diaspora in the United States according to the American Community Survey.