American Airlines Adds CLT Service to Virginia and West Virginia Mountains

American Airlines will launch two new routes from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to mountain spots in Virginia and West Virginia starting in February. Service to Shenandoah Valley Airport in Weyers Cave, Virginia, begins Feb. 3. Flights to Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, West Virginia, start Feb. 10.

SkyWest Airlines will operate the routes under the American Eagle brand. Daily flights between Charlotte and SHD will use regional aircraft seating between 65 and 76 passengers. Each plane includes a first-class cabin, according to a news release from the airport.

The carrier will hire employees at SHD to support the new flights to Charlotte and Chicago. Passengers traveling from SHD will have access to streamlined check-in and baggage transfers through an agreement with the airline.

Contour will continue to provide service from SHD to CLT through Feb. 1. That carrier has provided flights between the two locations for three years, and service will end in early February.

"Charlotte has long been a popular hub for Valley residents, and we are excited that this important connection will continue seamlessly with SkyWest's new American Eagle service," said SHD spokeswoman Heather Ream, according to the Charlotte Observer.

The Shenandoah Valley offers access to Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, and caverns like Luray. The area includes Civil War battlefields, historic towns such as Staunton and Winchester, and attractions including Harpers Ferry and the American Shakespeare Center.

The Greenbrier Valley is known for The Greenbrier Resort, a historic luxury destination that served as a secret Cold War bunker and a World War II hospital. The area also includes the Greenbrier River trail for hiking and biking, caves like Lost World Caverns, and Lewisburg's historic architecture.

American Airlines offers thousands of daily flights to more than 350 destinations in over 60 countries. Charlotte Douglas serves as the second-largest hub for the carrier, which accounts for about 90% of all flights from the facility.

The airline provides flights to more than 170 destinations in 27 countries worldwide at CLT through its network. Charlotte Douglas ranks as the sixth-busiest airport in the world for takeoffs and landings, according to preliminary rankings released in April by Airports Council International.

The airport had 596,583 flights last year, an 11% increase from 2023, when it was ranked seventh internationally.