American Airlines is significantly expanding its services from Los Angeles International Airport this year, strengthening one of its key hubs and providing more access for customers across its growing global network.

In addition to American’s new service between Los Angeles and Raleigh/Durham, N.C., which began on April 2nd, American will begin serving seven additional destinations this summer.

On June 12th Eugene and Redmond, both in Oregon, will join the network, with the flights operated by SkyWest Airlines as part of a codeshare deal.

On August 27th, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Indianapolis, Hartford, Connecticut, and Columbus, Ohio, will all received inaugural flights from American.

Finally, also on August 27th, Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Bentonville will join the American Airlines route network, with the route operated by subsidiary American Eagle Airlines.

In addition, in February American filed an application with the US Department of Transportation for the right to fly additional United States – Brazil frequencies beginning in 2013.

Pending government approval, American intends to use these frequencies to add one new daily round trip service from its Los Angeles hub to Sao Paulo on November 21st, expanding the airline’s Latin American network footprint.

American currently offers more than 900 weekly flights to 49 cities throughout Latin America, including Mexico, Central and South America.

“Our Los Angeles hub plays a vital role in our domestic and international network strategy,” said Virasb Vahidi, American’s chief commercial officer.

“Together with our oneworld alliance partners, we offer customers seamless access to the most important business and leisure travel destinations across the globe from LAX.”

With these new markets, American will serve 51 domestic and international destinations from its LAX hub.

Customers have access to even more global destinations through partners British Airways, Iberia, Qantas, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific and LAN, all of which offer convenient connections from Los Angeles.

In addition, American’s codeshare relationship with Alaska Airlines provides customers with enhanced service to key destinations along the West Coast.

Further demonstrating its commitment to the Los Angeles market, American will be deploying its brand new 777-300ER aircraft on its route between Los Angeles and London Heathrow in June.

The 777-300ER introduces new enhancements to the in-flight experience, including fully lie-flat seats in First and Business Class – all with direct aisle access; a walk-up bar for premium-cabin customers that offers snacks and sweets; and a sophisticated entertainment system offering hundreds of hours of audio and video programming options at every seat throughout the aircraft.

American was the first US airline to order and take delivery of the state-of-the-art Boeing 777-300ER and intends to take delivery of 20 of the aircraft over the next few years.