American Airlines Temporarily Adds Over 5,000 Seats on Charlotte-Caribbean Routes

American Airlines threw more than a dozen flights into service and nearly 5,000 seats to move passengers trying to reach or leave the Eastern Caribbean after airspace opened back up. The company sent a Boeing 777-300, its biggest plane, to haul as many travelers as it could.

Changes kicked off Jan. 4. Routes now link Charlotte with several islands. Officials said crews will keep working to assist customers stuck by the FAA-ordered airspace shutdown.

“That work will continue as the American team does everything it can to help customers affected by the FAA-mandated airspace closure,” officials said, according to Queen City News.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport gained service to Aruba, San Juan, and St. Lucia — two trips each. Flights carry designations AA9605, AA9607, AA9603, AA9604, AA9623, and AA9624.

Miami became the center for most additions, with trips to Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Dominica, San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. Chicago O'Hare picked up links to Curacao and St. Croix.

On Jan. 5, the Boeing 777-300 started running four trips daily from Miami to San Juan. Numbers for those runs: AA9604, AA9605, AA9606, and AA9613.

Thousands had plans wrecked when airspace closed. Extra seats aim to fix the mess.

San Juan got the biggest boost — six trips added through Charlotte and Miami combined. Aruba saw big gains too, along with the U.S. Virgin Islands.

How long will extra trips last? The airline hasn't said. But the moves answer demand piled up when temporary restrictions blocked normal travel to Caribbean destinations.