(This story was updated because of an earlier version included an inaccurate headline.)
American Airlines is adding a rare nonstop link between South Florida and the home of the Fighting Irish, rolling out a Miami-to-South Bend flight for Notre Dame’s showdown this fall.
The airline has begun marketing Miami–South Bend trips on its website and partner platforms, positioning itself as a primary option into South Bend International Airport for the upcoming season. While the new service has not yet appeared as a daily, year-round route, American has increasingly used limited nonstop flights and added capacity to chase college football demand.
Earlier this year, the Fort Worth-based carrier announced what it called its largest-ever fall football schedule, layering in more than 185 additional flights and 22,000-plus extra seats tied to College Football Playoff games and other marquee matchups. That effort included special nonstops between cities that typically lack direct service, as well as targeted round trips to South Bend on select weekends.
American’s push follows a broader industry trend in which major airlines build short-lived routes around big events, from college football Saturdays to the Super Bowl, in an effort to capture fan travel. For Notre Dame supporters in South Florida, the Miami–South Bend nonstop offers a way to skip connections and arrive closer to kickoff — and, if demand holds, could be a preview of more targeted game-day flying in seasons to come.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: American Airlines to helps Miami fans travel to Notre Dame this season
Reporting by Sunny Verma, Fighting Irish Wire / Fighting Irish Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
