American Airlines is adding this new tropical destination from RDU next winter
American Airlines will fly nonstop between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and the Dominican Republic next winter, a rare international flight from RDU’s second-busiest airline.
American announced Wednesday that it will begin flying between the Triangle and Punta Cana on Dec. 6. The flights will operate on Saturdays only through April 5.
American may have competition from Avelo Airlines. The low-cost carrier began flying two days a week between RDU and Punta Cana in February. Avelo says the service will pause in September, then resume in mid-November.
American has flown between RDU and London’s Heathrow Airport year around for years. Punta Cana will be the third international destination the carrier serves from the Triangle, including seasonal flights to Cancun, Mexico.
The airline, which once had a hub in the Triangle, handles about 27% of passengers at RDU, second only to Delta at 28%. American offers several flights at day to its hub in Charlotte, with several international connections from there.
The RDU flight is one of four to Punta Cana from non-hub airports that American announced on Wednesday. Others start Dec. 6 from Indianapolis, Nashville and Pittsburgh.
