Major airline announces new flights to Philadelphia

SARASOTA — American Airlines announced it will add nonstop service from Philadelphia International Airport to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

According to a press release, the service will begin Jan. 12, 2019 and continue through Sept. 1, 2019. Flights will be on Saturdays and Sundays. The service will use an Embraer 175 aircraft.

The flights will depart Philadelphia at 8:05 a.m. and arrive in Sarasota at 11:03 a.m. The flights will leave Sarasota at 11:47 a.m. and arrive in Philadelphia at 2:30 p.m. 

This is the third new destination American Airlines has added at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport this year. It also has daily service to Dallas/Ft. Worth and Chicago starting Dec. 20. 

"We could not be happier with the growth American Airlines is providing at SRQ," Sarasota Bradenton International Airport President and CEO Rick Piccolo says in a statement. "These new routes and larger aircraft will provide a significant upgrade in service for our visitors and local community."

In August, the airport announced that Frontier Airlines will start service to Philadelphia International Airport starting Dec. 10. Frontier's flights will be on Mondays and Fridays.