By the Caribbean Journal staff

American Airlines is ramping up its Caribbean network.

The carrier announced plans to add eight new routes to Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America later this year.

The new flights include Charlotte-Curacao; Charlotte-Puerto Plata; Dallas-Punta Cana; Los Angeles-Montego Bay and Chicago-Punta Cana.

The Charlotte and Dallas flights will begin on Dec. 18 and 19, respectively; the Los Angeles-Montego Bay flights will launch Dec. 18, and the Chicago-Punta Cana flights will launch Dec. 19.

“As the premier carrier to Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America with flights to 85 destinations, these additions highlight our commitment to providing our customers with a network that is second to none,” said Art Torno, American Airlines’ senior vice president for Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America. “We are committed to each country we serve, and these new routes allow us to contribute to and further promote travel and tourism to and from the region.”

The new flights point to what seems to be an emphasis by the major carriers on increasing Caribbean flights beyond traditional Notrheastern hubs.

For a full chart of the new flights, see below: