A service that will allow American Airlines passengers to go through TSA screening at Wilmington Airport and take the bus to Philadelphia International Airport has been announced.
Effective October 7, customers will be able to park at Wilmington Airport (ILG) and clear security at the airport near New Castle before boarding an American Airlines branded bus connection to the airport.
The schedule will be timed to connect to key American Airlines flights with six daily roundtrip operations.
Landline’s American Airlines service is currently operating from airports in the Lehigh Valley and Atlantic City. Service to Lancaster was dropped due to a lack of passengers. The company also operates buses from the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Toronto, and Denver airports.
American Airlines accounts for nearly two-thirds of passenger traffic at Philadelphia International Airport.
How it works
- Passengers clear security at Wilmington ILC, board a l motorcoach at ILG departure gates, and arrive at a secure gate at PHL’s Terminal F. Customers will then exit at the gate and proceed to their next gate to continue their flight.
- Motorcoaches feature 35 leather seats in a two-by-one seating configuration and offer 36 inches of seat pitch, comparable to the premium cabin on a regional jet. Passengers also get free WiFi and in-seat power.
- Additionally, customers can earn and redeem AAdvantage miles using the connecting Landline “flights”.
- Bags are handled as with any flight: passengers check their luggage in with American Airlines agents on arrival at ILG, and the airport’s baggage handling system takes over. Check-in also works like any other American Airlines flight.
- American is launching the service with six roundtrips per day, timed to connect with the airline’s flights out of Philadelphia.
- To use the service, customers will book their flight through American Airlines’ website or mobile app, entering ILG as origin and select their final destination.
- Travelers arriving back in Philadelphia will board the motorcoach and arrive nonstop at Wilmington Airport. Checked baggage will be automatically transferred between the motorcoaches and aircraft.
“We’re excited to welcome American Airlines’ Landline connecting service to our customer offerings at ILG,” said Thomas J. Cook, executive director of the Delaware River and Bay Authority. “The Wilmington Airport offers a refreshingly fast, smooth and simple hometown airport feel, complete with affordable parking and a superior customer experience. If you’re looking for quality service without the big city airport hassles associated with parking, check-in, or security screening, the American Airlines Landline connection service at ILG is for you!”
“We are pleased to expand our innovative partnership with Landline to Wilmington Airport and the State of Delaware,” said Joe Sottile, Director of Shorthaul Network Planning for American Airlines. “This new service will provide local residents access to American’s global network, including convenient one-stop service to more than 100 destinations around the world via our Philadelphia hub.”
Tickets are now available for purchase at aa.com or through American’s mobile app for one-stop connections to more than 100 destinations.
The Delaware River & Bay Authority will work with American Airlines and Landline on a final service agreement to support the start of service and associated work at the terminal, which now has only Avelo Airlines operations.
The DRBA is working on upgrades to the terminal and is adding near-terminal parking following the demolition of a motel and restaurant. That parking is slated to become available in October.
