Taking flight: Nonstop routes returning to Madison airports sooner than expected | Local News

Outside of Dane County, U.S. domestic flights at large have rebounded much more quickly than predicted, after industry experts projected that domestic air travel would take years to recover. Both the New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported that airlines are working “like it’s 2019 again” — a record-setting year for the industry and the Madison airport included. In July, nationwide consumer spending on airlines surpassed 2019 levels temporarily for the first time since the pandemic.

The Las Vegas flight isn’t the only nonstop that’s been announced for the DCRA. American Airlines revealed in July that it will offer new nonstop service from Madison to Miami in November. With the addition of Miami, the airport now boasts four nonstop seasonal flights to Florida, including Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers. The airport has ambitions to transition some if its new seasonal flights to year-round offerings as the travel industry continues to stabilize. 

“We would like to thank American Airlines for their continued partnership with the DCRA. Not only will this flight provide the perfect opportunity to escape winter weather, but it will serve as a vital international gateway for residents of south-central Wisconsin,” Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said in a press release.