American Airlines raises domestic summer schedule to near pre-pandemic levels

American Airlines is expanding its summer schedule in a bet that the renewed travel demand will continue as more people are vaccinated.

This summer, American plans to fly more than 90% of the local schedule and 80% of the international schedule during the peak season of 2019, adding 150 new routes for the peak holiday period. According to American, its capacity decreased by more than 43% in the first quarter compared to the same period of 2019.

Airlines eager to get a rebound in travel weigh how much capacity to use this summer. Demand has grown as more people have been vaccinated against Covid-19, travel restrictions have been eased and more attractions, such as Disneyland, are poised to reopen. Airline executives will brief investors on their strategies this week, when Delta begins quarterly reporting on Thursday.

“During the pandemic, our brand was to set up a schedule based on what customers tell us they want and need,” Brian Znotins, America’s vice president of network planning, said in a news release. “And today they tell us that they are eager to travel again.”

As international travel is still depressing, American plans to use some of its Boeing 777s wide-body aircraft on domestic flights to New York and Los Angeles from its Miami center. Americans and competitors like United and Delta have added flights to destinations with outdoor attractions like beaches and mountains, as travelers are looking for vacations where they can physically distance themselves from others.