Southern Arizonans will gain an important new air service connection starting February 15/16 when American Airlines introduces nonstop flights between Tucson International Airport (TUS) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).

The new daily service is an overnight flight from Tucson timed to give southern Arizonans quick and convenient connections to destinations along the east coast and the southeast U.S. as well as destinations in the Caribbean. Coming to Tucson, the flight will give passengers from the east the opportunity to jump start their day with a morning arrival.

“This is an important new route for the Tucson region. Charlotte gives southern Arizonans more and new opportunities to reach their destinations. It also makes it easier for people to travel to and from the southeastern U.S.,” said Bonnie Allin, President and CEO of the Tucson Airport Authority. “Of course it has become an important economic and financial destination in its own right.”

The planned schedule:

From Tucson, the early morning arrival in Charlotte is timed to connect with 73 other destinations on American Airlines and arrive at nearly all of them before lunch.  (See chart at end showing destinations and arrival times.)

Westbound to Tucson, morning connections at Charlotte are available for passengers coming from: Augusta, GA; Baltimore; Chattanooga, TN; Charlottesville, VA; Charleston, SC; Charleston, WV; Cincinnati; Dayton, OH; Fayetteville, NC; Florence, SC; Gainesville, FL; Greensboro, NC; Indianapolis; Jacksonville-Camp Lejeune, NC; Knoxville, TN; Myrtle Beach, SC; Newark; Newport News-Williamsburg, VA; Norfolk, VA; Orlando; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Richmond, VA; Roanoke, VA; Savannah, GA; Tampa;  Washington-Dulles; Washington-Reagan; and Wilmington, NC.

The new flights between Tucson and Charlotte will be on board a 150-seat Airbus A320 aircraft outfitted with 12 first-class seats, 18 main cabin extra seats and 120 main cabin seats. The aircraft are also equipped with onboard WiFi.

American Airlines this month celebrates 90 years of service to Tucson. In addition to this new service to Charlotte, American flies to Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles and Phoenix.

Scheduled connections and arrival times from Tucson through Charlotte, effective February 16:

The Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) is an independent, non-profit organization operating Tucson International Airport (TUS) and general aviation reliever Ryan Airfield (RYN). TAA has sustained its operations since its origin in 1948 from airport generated revenues without the use of local taxes, and continues to invest millions of dollars each year in safety, security and facility infrastructure that drives job creation and economic activity for the benefit of Tucson and southern Arizona. The two airports currently support 35,000 jobs and house more than 100 tenants, and serve a diverse mix of both aviation and non-aviation related businesses, as well as military and government operations.