American Airlines starts ticket sales between Naples Airport, Charlotte, NC
American Airlines flights from Naples are available for booking starting Dec. 2, even though the world's largest airline by passengers and the Naples Airport don't have a deal in place yet.
The American Airlines website is selling round-trip tickets between Naples and Charlotte, North Carolina, for $427 and up plus taxes and fees, according to a search, Tuesday, June 30, for a Dec. 2 booking.
"American chose at their own risk to sell tickets," Naples Airport Authority (NAA) Executive Director Chris Rozansky told the Naples Daily News.
It looks likely that an agreement will be reached but there are still three major steps that need to take place first, he said. "Those negotiations with American are going well." Rozansky said. "We don't yet see any significant impediments."
However, he said, there's no agreement in place and one will need airport authority Board of Commissioners' approval; the North Road Terminal is still under construction; and TSA (U.S. Transportation Security Administration) approval is still needed.
"There's a lot of work to do yet," Rozansky said.
North Road Terminal, already undergoing renovations, will need modifications for American Airlines
American Airlines indicated its intent in May to return to Naples Airport after a 25-year absence.
The company, which last flew from Naples Airport in 2001, plans to use jets through the company's American Eagle brand and wholly owned subsidiary PSA Airlines. The American Eagle jets – 65-seat Bombardier CRJ‑700 regional jets with a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 75,000 pounds – are consistent with the existing fleet mix currently operating at the airport and are within the airport's established weight limit of 75,000 pounds.
The airport – and any other federally obligated airports and their authorities – is legally obligated to negotiate in good faith with any commercial airline that might want to fly to and from Naples, so says the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The NAA can't turn away American Airlines or any other airline that might want to start scheduled service at the Naples Airport as long as there is room, capacity and the planes meet the weight limits of the runways, according to FAA rules.
American Airlines would use the airport's North Road Terminal as have previous commercial airlines and would share the space with scheduled charter service company JSX, Netjets private jet service and rental-car companies.
The terminal already was undergoing major renovations when American Airlines came calling.
Had American asked a month earlier or a month later, the NAA might not have been able to accommodate commercial service, Rozansky said. Some modifications to the original construction plans will need to be made for TSA equipment and screening that aren't currently part of operations at the airport, whose tenants are charter and private flights.
Those modifications may need approval by the NAA commissioners in August, Rozansky said.
American Airlines lists Naples as Naples Marco Island, FL
When searching for flights on American Airlines' website, Naples is listed as its airport code of APF, which derives from Alternate Page Field – a reference to Page Field (FMY) in Fort Myers.
The listing is Naples Marco Island, FL. Marco Island also has an airport, which actually is just off the island, and also services charter and private planes.
Bookings on American Airlines began during the June 27 weekend, Bri HarperAmerican Airlines Corporate Communications Northeast Region, told the Naples Daily News in an email.
"American is proud to connect Naples to our unmatched network across the U.S. New nonstop service to our Charlotte hub will give customers in Southwest Florida convenient one stop access to nearly 180 destinations worldwide," Harper said. "We look forward to welcoming customers onboard and continuing our collaborative partnership with the Naples Airport and community."
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J. Kyle Foster is a senior growth & development reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her by emailing jfoster1@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: American Airlines starts ticket sales between Naples Airport, Charlotte, NC
Reporting by J. Kyle Foster, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
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This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 1:14 PM.