American Airlines has announced expanded summer service for 2018, with new and seasonal transatlantic routes beginning May 4. The additions connect two of the carrier’s major U.S. hubs—Philadelphia (PHL) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD)—with popular European destinations.
Starting May 4 and running through October 27, American will operate daily flights from Philadelphia to two new cities for the airline: Budapest (BUD) and Prague (PRG). Service from Chicago O’Hare to Venice (VCE) will also launch for the summer season. American already serves Venice from Philadelphia, so the Chicago–Venice link supplements the carrier’s offerings to the Italian city.
“Summer travel to Europe is very popular. These flights will conveniently connect customers from two very important hubs — Chicago and Philadelphia — to exciting markets across the Atlantic,” said Vasu Raja, vice president of network and schedule planning at American Airlines.
Bookings for all three routes are available now. American plans to use a Boeing 767-300 for both Philadelphia departures and a Boeing 787-8 on the Chicago–Venice service. The published schedule, which remains subject to government approval, provides convenient evening departures and morning arrivals across the Atlantic to maximize time at the destination.
The planned schedule from Philadelphia to Budapest shows a daily departure at 6:25 p.m., with arrival in Budapest at 9:35 a.m. the following day. The return departs Budapest at 11:35 a.m. and arrives in Philadelphia at 4:00 p.m. The Prague flights follow a similar pattern: departure from Philadelphia at 6:30 p.m., arrival in Prague at 9:05 a.m. the next morning, with the return leaving Prague at 11:30 a.m. and arriving in Philadelphia at 3:10 p.m.
The Chicago–Venice service is scheduled to depart O’Hare at 7:00 p.m., arriving in Venice at 11:00 a.m. local time. The return flight is set to leave Venice at 2:50 p.m. and arrive back in Chicago at 6:15 p.m. These timings are intended to provide travelers with full daytime hours at their destinations while keeping connections at U.S. hubs similar to other long-haul schedules.
Passengers planning summer travel to Europe can now add Budapest and Prague to American Airlines’ transatlantic network from Philadelphia, alongside the seasonal Chicago–Venice service. Travelers should confirm schedules and any necessary government approvals when booking, as published times may be adjusted before final regulatory clearance.