American Airlines is rolling out new technology aimed at reducing one of air travel’s most stressful moments: missing a connecting flight.

According to a report by the New York Post, the carrier is enhancing its flight-hold system to briefly delay select departures so passengers arriving late from delayed inbound flights can still make their connections—without disrupting the airline’s overall schedule.

The system uses a combination of American Airlines’ in-house artificial intelligence tool, Connect Assist, and on-the-ground staff to identify flights with at-risk connecting passengers. Once flagged, the technology evaluates whether a short delay can be absorbed by the broader network without triggering downstream disruptions.

If a flight is held, affected passengers receive an automated text message notifying them that their connection will wait—and specifying exactly how long they have to reach the gate. On average, flights are held for about 10 minutes, the airline said.

American Airlines spokesperson Luisa Barrientos Flores told Afar that the decision relies on “a complex algorithm” that analyzes dozens of variables to ensure no impact on customer itineraries or the wider schedule.

The initiative was first tested earlier this year at Dallas–Fort Worth and Charlotte Douglas international airports. The airline has since expanded the program to Chicago O’Hare, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Miami International, Philadelphia International, and Los Angeles International airports, with plans to add more hubs in the future.

Short connection windows—sometimes as little as 25 minutes—have long been a source of anxiety for travelers. Online reactions cited by the New York Post suggest the added transparency has been welcomed, with passengers praising the advance notifications for easing stress during tight layovers.

American Airlines is not alone in adopting AI-driven connection tools. United Airlines has used a similar system, Connection Saver, since 2019 and expanded passenger alerts in mid-2025.