American Airlines plans to add a new route to Portugal to its transatlantic network in summer 2027, using the Airbus A321XLR to open thinner long-haul European markets from its U.S. hubs.
The carrier said it intends to launch daily, summer-seasonal service between Philadelphia International Airport and Porto Airport, subject to government approval. “Porto is exactly the type of new market the Airbus A321XLR enables us to serve,” says Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning Brian Znotins.
“While we’ll have even more new routes to share later this year for summer 2027, we’re eager to continue growing our long-haul network that features service to new destinations, including Budapest and Prague that will start this summer.”
Porto will become American’s second destination in Portugal, complementing its year-round Philadelphia-Lisbon service. According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, the Oneworld alliance member currently serves Lisbon daily using Boeing 787-8 aircraft, switching to 787-9s at the start of March.
The move places American alongside Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in the growing U.S.-Porto market. United launched Newark-Porto service in 2018 and will offer daily flights during the summer 2026 season, resuming Feb. 21 with Boeing 757-200 aircraft.
Meanwhile, Delta is set to enter the market on June 1, launching daily New York John F. Kennedy-Porto service with 767-300 aircraft. TAP Air Portugal also serves the U.S. from Porto, operating Newark flights up to daily in summer 2026 and resuming Boston service four times per week.
Total capacity between Porto and the U.S. is expected to reach about 11,600 two-way weekly seats by peak summer 2026, up 26% year on year. United will account for roughly 42.5% of capacity, followed by TAP with 31.4% and Delta with 26.1%.
American’s Porto announcement underscores the growing role of the A321XLR in its international strategy. The carrier was the first U.S. airline to introduce the type into service, deploying it on New York JFK-Los Angeles flights in December 2025. Additional A321XLR routes are planned from JFK to Edinburgh beginning in March, as well as transcontinental services linking JFK with San Francisco and Boston with Los Angeles.
Porto will become American’s 19th summer-season European destination served from Philadelphia, joining Budapest and Prague, which will resume in May. The airline last served the two Central European cities in summer 2019.
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