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✈️ New daily Miami flights begin December 19, opening a direct gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean.
🌆 Chicago service becomes year-round, giving travelers expanded access to a major American Airlines hub.
📈 Local leaders say the routes reflect rising demand and decades of work to expand regional air connectivity.
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE — American Airlines will begin offering new daily nonstop flights between Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) and Miami International Airport (MIA) starting December 19, 2025. The airline also announced that it will extend its popular service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on a year-round basis.
According to a news release from Okaloosa County, the new route to Miami will run daily, with morning departures from VPS and late-night returns from MIA. The service will use dual-class Embraer 175 jets.
American Airlines highlighted Miami’s strategic role as a hub for connections to more than 70 destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America. County officials say the new flight provides expanded access to international travel, cruise ports, and Florida-based sporting events.
The same release confirmed that American’s flights to Chicago will no longer be seasonal, giving travelers consistent access to the airline’s Midwest hub.
“American is proud to offer the best worldwide connections for the residents of Okaloosa County to more than 350 destinations around the world,” said Jason Reisinger, American’s Managing Director of Global Network Planning, in the county release. “Our new flights to Miami and year-round service to Chicago will complement American’s existing flights to Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Washington, D.C.”
Local officials praised the expansion as a sign of the region’s growth and the airport’s rising profile.
“This is a testament to the growing popularity of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach destination and the professionalism of the staff at VPS,” said County Commission Chairman Paul Mixon, according to the news release. “This new route will benefit our local tourism industry while also enhancing tourism statewide through this new gateway between two great Florida locations.”
County Vice Chairman Carolyn Ketchel, along with Commissioners Sherri Cox, Trey Goodwin, and Drew Palmer, also shared statements in support of the expanded air service, citing long-term efforts to secure intrastate connectivity, regional mobility improvements, and quality-of-life benefits for local residents.
VPS Airport Director Tracy Stage added in the release, “Legacy, intrastate daily direct service—let’s go to Miami and abroad with American Airlines!”
Tickets for the new Miami route and extended Chicago service will go on sale starting July 21 via aa.com or the American Airlines mobile app.
Pro Communi Bono
