American Airlines could be about to make some big moves at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with rumours swirling once again that the carrier could be considering nonstop international flights to Singapore (SIN). Competition is fierce in Los Angeles for trans-Pacific flights; however, could the Fort Worth carrier be looking at serving the Lion City with the Boeing 787-9?

As reported by View From The Wing and aviation insider JonNYC on X, the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Nat Pieper, has otherwise dropped a major hint that it could be relooking at new Asian destinations. Currently, the only airline operating nonstop flights between the two airports is that of Singapore Airlines.

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With American gradually welcoming more of the Boeing 787-9P into its fleet, these specialized premium heavy-configured Dreamliners are well positioned for routes that see high-end revenue. The 787-9P can seat up to 244 passengers, with 51 Flagship Suites in a 1-2-1 layout. The Flagship Suite Preferred, in the front row, also offers upgraded bedding and amenity kits, while also providing up to 20% more bed surface.

With these newly designed interiors, this positions American well for considering new long-haul international markets, where demand is primarily for high-spend or corporate passengers. While American currently only serves Tokyo, Seoul, Delhi, and Shanghai in Asia, the addition of Singapore would be a welcome move and its first in Southeast Asia.

American previously dismantled its Asia hub at Los Angeles, leaving just a handful of services from Los Angeles (Haneda, Sydney and Auckland). The airline otherwise has focused its operations from its home at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), with five destinations, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), where it will launch flights to Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) next spring.

How Could American Airlines Make Singapore Work?

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Many Asian carriers already operate nonstop flights to Los Angeles from their respective hubs, and this makes the trans-Pacific market hard for US carriers to make these routes profitable. The likes of Singapore Airlines, the only airline with nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Singapore, leverage passengers through the airline’s extensive network onwards from Singapore to the likes of India, Thailand, and Vietnam. Singapore airport details below:

One-stop itineraries also provide sufficient market demand for those who are cost-sensitive, with the likes of EVA Air, China Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Korean Air also providing extensive networks via their Asian hubs across the continent.

Should American’s rumors become true, if it were to launch nonstop flights to Singapore, it would become the second US carrier to do so, after United Airlines, who operate the route from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Rebuilding Los Angeles As a Trans-Pacific Hub

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Pieper has explained that while Asia flying is incredibly competitive, and despite the airline having previously served Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai prior to the pandemic, the routes ultimately underperformed, and this was due to excessive capacity from other operators.

For American to make Singapore work, it would need to differentiate itself from other airlines and provide a unique selling point through different schedules or by providing a point of difference onboard. With United already serving Singapore from San Francisco, and Delta planning its own Singapore link from either Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or Los Angeles, it will ultimately be down to whether American can make Singapore work, or look to deploy its aircraft elsewhere.

Using the 787-9P, American already deploys these premium heavy aircraft on select international routes, including destinations in Europe and Australia.