American Airlines will begin offering direct flights between Chattanooga and Miami on May 7, adding a ninth city with direct service from Chattanooga’s Lovell Field.
The new Saturday-only flights to Miami International Airport will depart Chattanooga at 6:17 a.m., and arrive at Miami’s airport at 8:20 a.m., every Saturday, starting in May. A return flight each Saturday will leave Miami at 9:50 p.m. and arrive in Chattanooga at 11:58 p.m.
With the new route, the Chattanooga Airport will offer nonstop service to three Florida cities – Orlando, Tampa and Miami – along with other direct flights to hub airports in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit and Washington D.C.
“The Chattanooga Airport has focused on securing new routes to meet the needs and wishes of passengers, and we’re thankful to our partners like American for increasing their offerings,” Terry Hart, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Airport, said Monday in an announcement of the new flight. “Miami has been on our radar for a while, and we’re just as excited as passengers to have this flight and for the opportunities it brings for vacation and business.”
The Miami flights will be offered on a 76-seat Embraer 175, which includes 12 seats in first class. The Miami International Airport connects passengers to 92 international destinations, including 35 cities across the Caribbean and every country in Latin America. The expanded service from Chattanooga will also provide easier access to PortMiami – the largest passenger port in the world – for both cruising and business.
The announcement Monday comes two months after the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority voted to seek federal funds to expand service to South Florida and 10 months after American Airlines restored its direct flights from Chattanooga to Washington D.C. in April.
“The Chattanooga Airport is a key economic driver for our region, and expanding our air service to include highly sought-after destinations is of critical importance to our business community,” Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly said in a statement Monday. “Service to Miami is a win for our residents, and we will continue to work hard to increase both our domestic and international reach to help employers grow their Chattanooga footprint.”
The new flight comes as Chattanooga’s airport prepares to begin a $28 million expansion of its terminal to add three more gates to handle more airpcraft.
– Compiled by Dave Flessner