Commercial service is set to return to a small airport on Florida's Gulf Coast, with American Airlines filing plans to launch nonstop flights later this year from Naples, Florida.
The move would give travelers in Southwest Florida an alternative airport to the region's main hub, marking the return of commercial service back to an airport that hasn't had flights on a major U.S. carrier in decades.
Schedule data from a leading aviation analytics firm shows that American plans to launch service from Naples to its Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) hub beginning in December, offering travelers the option to book flights and AAdvantage award redemptions starting at 8,500 miles one-way.
The return of commercial service to Naples Airport wasn't entirely surprising, given the results of a recent survey that showed 8 in 10 residents favored bringing back commercial flights to the airport.
Naples Airport is situated just miles from the Florida Coast and minutes from popular Naples Beach, making it an attractive option for travelers looking for a closer-to-home travel option.
APF is located some 30 miles south of the far larger Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), and just 17 miles from Marco Island, providing a more convenient drive for travelers visiting the area.
The limited service from American will be provided by a small Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet, which seats 65 passengers, but will connect to any of the U.S. cities the airline serves from its major Charlotte hub, as well as European destinations.
This isn't American's first time serving Naples, as the carrier previously flew from the airport 25 years ago, in 2001, and already flies from Fort Myers to most of its hubs, including Charlotte.
