American Airlines ends 60 years of shuttle history with New York-Boston exit

“You’re always sure of a seat on the AIR-SHUTTLE,” an Eastern Air Lines ad said about its Boston-New York-Washington shuttle service in 1967. Travelers could “just show and go” — no reservations needed — for as little as $13 one-way between Boston and New York. But by 2021, travel has changed a lot. Not only do travelers need reservations, walk-up fares start at $109 for the Boston-New York LaGuardia route — though that is remarkably close to the $107 that $13 fare would be when adjusted for inflation. American Airlines, which acquired the legacy assets of the Eastern Air Shuttle when it merged with US Airways in 2013, will end service between Boston and New York LaGuardia by summer 2022, the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier told staff in an internal communiqué on November 9. Northeast Alliance partner JetBlue Airways will operate the route for both carriers. “We are revamping the high-frequency travel experience to meet the needs of today’s business customers,” American Chief Revenue Officer Vasu Raja told staff. That includes dropping American-operated Boston-LaGuardia flights — Boston to New York JFK and Washington Reagan National service continues — and the American Shuttle brand entirely, as well as launching a new fare product dubbed “Main Select” that targets business travelers.<br/>