Fashion capital? World Cup? American Airlines just added new flights at MIA

Travelers will soon have a new way to get from Miami to the financial and fashion center of Italy, and they can start booking tickets next week.

American Airlines is adding non-stop, daily service between MIA and Milan, betting on the appeal of its culture and wealth even as record numbers of Americans are already traveling to Europe and crowding its largest cities.

Starting in March 2026, American says it will be the only carrier offering l offer non-stop service between MIA and Milan. The flights, on a Boeing 787-8, will be year-round, starting March 29, American announced on Thursday. Milan is also central for those looking to travel throughout Italy, whether Venice or the Ligurian coast, home to Cinque Terre. It’s also an easy train ride to much of the rest of Europe including the South of France.

The announcement comes about two months after American started daily service between MIA and Rome. That first flight departed MIA on June 5 after a festive celebration at the gate in terminal D attended by Italian diplomats, Miami-Dade County officials and curious passengers. It left one month earlier than originally planned due to increased demand.

American also said on Thursday it’s trying to get ahead of next year’s World Cup and will increase service between MIA and Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport to as many a three daily flights next spring and summer. That will happen between May 21, 2026, and Aug.t 3, 2026. That’s up from the usual two daily flights during those months.

Plane tickets will be available starting Aug. 11, 2025, on the airline’s website or mobile app.

The 2026 World Cup opens June 11 in Mexico City and concludes July 19 in New Jersey. In between, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will host seven matches. But the draw won’t take place until December, meaning fans won’t know until then which team is playing where.

Still, Lionel Messi who led Argentina to win the last World Cup in 2022, plays for Inter Miami and lives in South Florida with his family, making the region appealing to his compatriots.

The new flights come as total passenger volume has fallen at South Florida’s major airports for the first time in years, the Miami Herald reported this week. During the first half of 2025, which ended June 30, the number of passengers passing through Miami International Airport decreased 1.4% to 28.5 million compared to the first half of 2024. That hadn’t happened since 2017, excluding the pandemic year of 2020.

American Airlines despite having its largest summer schedule in its history out of MIA saw 2% fewer passengers in the first half of this year.

And there’s been a drop in arrivals at MIA from Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Peru.

Still, Argentines are one group increasing their travel to South Florida.

And American Airlines continues to be bullish on the region. It has about 15,000 employees based at MIA.

This story was originally published August 7, 2025 at 3:12 PM.