American Airlines is getting into the bus business

Enjoy out for American Airlines buses on a road near you — at the very least for motorists in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Fort Worth-based American Airlines has inked a deal with bus enterprise Landline to switch some shorter-hop connecting flights to Philadelphia International Airport from Allentown, Pa., and Atlantic Town, N.J., with bus rides.

Commencing in June, the Landline buses, painted with an American Airlines symbol, will choose up passengers at Lehigh Intercontinental Airport in Allentown or Atlantic Metropolis Worldwide Airport and rumble down the street to Philadelphia, a big hub for American’s worldwide connections.

Travellers will actually park at airports in Allentown or Atlantic Metropolis, check out in, look at luggage and go by security before loading on to a single of the 35-seat buses to consider them on the approximately 50-mile journey to Philadelphia. From the bus, they can go straight into the terminal as if they ended up transferring airplanes. Baggage are transferred, far too.

“For much too very long, vacationers have been bothered by all of the ancillary parts of traveling, which include having to and from the airport, parking, transporting their bags and navigating safety,” stated a statement from Landline CEO and co-founder David Sunde.

Landline partners with airways these as United and Sunshine Nation on similar visits in Colorado and Minnesota.

Placing airline travellers on a bus basically solves a difficult predicament for American Airways in regions where airports are densely grouped. The 50-mile vacation is just as well shorter for a commercial flight, even on a lesser regional plane. At the exact time, clients are frequently eager to push 60 to 80 minutes to get to an airport with much far more connections.

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

American Airways customers can receive loyalty miles for the journey.

On the way home, the buses will choose travellers again to Allentown or Atlantic City, along with their luggage.

“Customers can begin and stop their journey at their area airport, take it easy on a relaxed Landline auto and leave the driving to anyone else while they function or commence their trip early,” said American Airlines vice president of network setting up Brian Znotins in a assertion.