American Airlines is trying to make the chaos of layovers a little less stressful.
Earlier this month, the airline announced it’s testing new in-house technology designed to help passengers make their connecting flights, even if they’re cutting it close.
The pilot program, launching at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), identifies flights that have passengers running late from another American flight. If the schedule allows, the system can propose a short delay so those travelers don’t miss their connection. Translation: Your next flight might actually wait for you.
The technology was developed by American’s internal team and builds on current practices. The goal is to automate how often and when flights can be held without throwing the whole system into chaos. After Dallas, the next stop is Charlotte Douglas International (CLT), with other hubs lined up for later this summer.
And it’s all part of a bigger push.
With more than 715,000 flights scheduled through Sept. 2, the airline is prepping for what could be its busiest summer yet. From adding extra boarding time on domestic flights to streamlining international layovers and dropping a refreshed app experience, American is clearly aiming for smoother skies.
For those flying a bit more luxe, American is also rolling out its Flagship Suite® experience on the new Boeing 787-9, and a new Flagship® Lounge is set to open at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
“We know expectations are high,” said Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden, pointing to vacation season and how much is riding on a seamless travel experience.
