American adds St. Louis flights at Springfield airport

The regional affiliate of American Airlines will provide round-trip service between Springfield-Branson National Airport and Lambert St. Louis International Airport on a 37-seat regional jet.

American previously offered Springfield-to-St. Louis service through contract carrier Trans States Airlines until June last year, when it discontinued the service because of low demand, according to Springfield airport spokesman Kent Boyd. Growth of American’s Springfield maintenance facility – now employing 76 workers – prompted the airline to return the service.

“They need to get the airplanes serviced here, so it makes sense to have bodies on the plane, rather than empty,” Boyd said. “And … even though there’s a small demand for the St. Louis service, there are people out there who want it.”

St. Louis marks the Springfield airport’s 12th destination.

Flights from St. Louis to Springfield will depart daily at 6:35 p.m. and arrive at 7:35 p.m.; flights from Springfield to St. Louis will depart daily at 6:40 a.m. and arrive at 7:35 a.m.

American Eagle operates more than 1,800 flights daily to more than 140 cities.