American Airlines is getting into the bus business

Enjoy out for American Airlines buses on a highway around you — at least for drivers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Fort Value-based American Airlines has inked a deal with bus enterprise Landline to replace some small-hop connecting flights to Philadelphia Worldwide Airport from Allentown, Pa., and Atlantic Town, N.J., with bus rides.

Beginning in June, the Landline buses, painted with an American Airways brand, will decide on up travellers at Lehigh Intercontinental Airport in Allentown or Atlantic City Intercontinental Airport and rumble down the road to Philadelphia, a key hub for American’s intercontinental connections.

Travellers will actually park at airports in Allentown or Atlantic City, check out in, test baggage and go as a result of safety prior to loading onto one of the 35-seat buses to acquire them on the approximately 50-mile vacation to Philadelphia. From the bus, they can go straight into the terminal as if they ended up transferring airplanes. Luggage are transferred, as well.

“For way too lengthy, tourists have been bothered by all of the ancillary elements of flying, together with acquiring to and from the airport, parking, transporting their bags and navigating security,” stated a assertion from Landline CEO and co-founder David Sunde.

Landline companions with airlines these kinds of as United and Sun Place on very similar visits in Colorado and Minnesota.

Placing airline passengers on a bus in fact solves a difficult problem for American Airways in regions where by airports are densely grouped. The 50-mile excursion is merely also quick for a commercial flight, even on a smaller sized regional aircraft. At the very same time, customers are generally willing to drive 60 to 80 minutes to get to an airport with much extra connections.

American Airways only flies from Allentown to Charlotte and Chicago, two other significant hubs for American. That would make a long journey to get someplace such as Boston or even Pittsburgh and Cleveland. American Airways does not even fly to Atlantic City Global Airport, which is only served by Spirit Airlines.

American Airlines shoppers can receive loyalty miles for the excursion.

On the way house, the buses will get passengers back to Allentown or Atlantic Town, along with their baggage.

“Customers can commence and close their journey at their nearby airport, loosen up on a comfortable Landline car or truck and go away the driving to somebody else though they work or start off their holiday early,” explained American Airways vice president of community organizing Brian Znotins in a assertion.