AA, BA AND IBERIA ANNOUNCE BETTER DEAL FOR TRANSATLANTIC FLIERS

 

Transatlantic fliers will soon have wide access to cheaper fares, bigger choice of flight times and easier connecting journeys following the launch of the new joint business between American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia. The heads of the three firms met on October 6th, 2010 to discuss the deal which is seen as a way that enables oneworld to compete far more effectively with other global alliances on routes between Europe and North America.

According to the press release, four new routes that will be introduced from next April as an early benefit of the new joint business. The new routes will cover: New York JFK-Budapest and Chicago-Helsinki (operated by American), London Heathrow-San Diego (operated by British Airways) and Madrid-Los Angeles (operated by Iberia).

As part of this relationship, customers are expected to benefit:

• Greater access to a wider choice of fares
• Coordinated schedules on joint routes to provide customers with better flight choice and timings
• Dedicated support teams for customers transferring at five of the airlines’ hubs: New York JFK, London Heathrow, Madrid, Chicago and Miami.
• Online check in and boarding pass printing with either the airline operating the flight, or the one the ticket was booked through
• Integrated online flight information on all three airlines’ websites
• Increased opportunity to earn and redeem frequent flyer benefits on transatlantic flights
• More integrated account management for corporate customers

Gerard Arpey, chairman and chief executive of AMR Corp, the parent company of American Airlines, said: “We’ve been waiting for 14 years to be able to bring these benefits to our customers and it’s great news that we can now put our plans into action. Our revenue-sharing partnership will further boost oneworld, in what has been a momentous year for the alliance, and enable us to reduce costs and attract new business. It will provide additional stability for the airlines and our customers, employees and shareholders and allow us to invest in new products and services”. Reads the Statement made available on BA’s website.

Source: http://press.ba.com