American Airlines recently announced (although in the creepiest way) their summer 2020 international schedule. They added 5 new routes but one of their new transatlantic routes continue to show that Africa is the place to be despite many airlines ignoring the continent as a whole.
THE 5 NEW ROUTES
These are the 5 new transatlantic routes that American Airlines announced:
- Chicago (ORD) to Krakow, Poland (KRK)
- Chicago (ORD) to Budapest, Hungary (BUD)
- Chicago (ORD) to Prague, Czech Republic (PRG)
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Casablanca, Morocco (CMN)
BELIEVE IT OR NOT…
American’s new seasonal service from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in Casablanca, Morocco, marks the the airline’s first-ever entrance into Africa.
Morocco’s tourism economy is seeing above-average growth. Between 2000-2018, Morocco saw an annual tourist arrival rate of 6 percent (compared to 4 percent for overall global tourist arrivals). At the beginning of this year, The Moroccan National Tourist Office announced that Morocco received 12.3 million tourists in 2018, up 8 percent from 2017.
WHY CASABLANCA?
It is well known that American Airlines will partner with Royal Air Maroc when it joins the Oneworld airline alliance in mid-2020. The partnership between the two airlines will allow for more connections further into Africa.
PRO-TIP: If you haven’t taken advantage of THIS SWEETSPOT with Etihad, you may want to do it sooner than later. Once Royal Air Maroc moves into the Oneworld alliance, I can assure you that the price will increase dramatically.
The airline has also added a year-round flight from its largest hub (DFW) to Ben-Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv, Israel. This is amazing as Israel saw a record-breaking number of tourists last year – up 38 percent between 2016 and 2018.
FINAL STAMP
If you have ever traveled (or attempted to travel) to any country in Africa, you are aware that airline tickets are astronomically expensive and you are, essentially, obligated to connect in Europe.
However, with a thriving and vibrant community in Casablanca, it is difficult to ignore such a gem.
I am excited to see that American Airlines is investing in their Philadelphia hub, adding new trans-Atlantic destinations, and continuing to enhance the customer experience through their new forthcoming Flagship Lounge.
1TattedPassport 