American Airlines Launches New York Initiative

February 22, 2007

New Flights, Enhanced Services Give New York-Area Travelers More Choices and Greater Convenience

NEW YORK – American Airlines is launching an initiative to become the clear-cut airline of choice for passengers in the New York market. In the coming weeks and months, American will demonstrate its commitment to New York with additional routes, enhanced offers, and promotions.

American, the world's largest airline and a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, and American Eagle combine to carry more than 16 million passengers each year to and from the five New York-area airports (John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark, White Plains/Westchester County, and Newburgh/Stewart) on more than 175,000 flights to and from more than 60 business and leisure destinations.

“We want to make it crystal clear that American Airlines and American Eagle are the airlines of choice for the greater New York area,” said David Cush, American's Senior Vice President of Global Sales. “It's no secret that New York is a critical market for all major airlines, especially American, and we intend to be New York's favorite airline through some of the actions we have begun taking, as well as those coming in the months ahead.

“For more than 80 years, we have offered convenient service from the New York market to locations throughout the U.S. and the world. We offer competitive pricing on all of our routes. We are the largest U.S. airline flying out of New York to London and the Caribbean, as well as from JFK and LaGuardia to Canada. Our 8,300 New York-area employees are among the largest airline workforce in this region, and they are proud of our legacy. We want to be No. 1 --- the preferred airline -- in New York,” Cush said.

New York-area customers already have started to receive a taste of what American Airlines has in store for them in 2007 and in the years to come. For example:

  • Last month, American announced upgrading its seasonal service between Rome and the United States to year-round service beginning April 10. Using Boeing 767-300 widebody aircraft, American will fly daily from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Rome's Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci Intercontinental Airport. Then for the low-peak travel season, beginning Oct. 28 and continuing through March 31, 2008, the service will be flown three times per week from JFK (Tuesday, Friday and Sunday) and four times a week from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday).
  • Earlier this month, American Airlines offered customers who buy a roundtrip First or Business Class ticket for travel between JFK and London's Heathrow Airport through May 31 the opportunity to earn up to three free* trips anywhere American flies in the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.
  • Two weeks ago, American launched a promotion allowing passengers flying Business Class from JFK to Heathrow through March 31 the opportunity to get a free upgrade to First Class when purchasing a qualifying** Business Class fare.
  • American's new, $1.1 billion state-of-the-art terminal at JFK will be completed later this summer, which will provide for the region's future travel needs for years to come. The new terminal will feature nearly 1.5 million square feet, 36 gates, 101 ticketing positions (more than any other airline at JFK), and 10 security checkpoint lanes that can process more than 1,900 passengers an hour.
  • American is beginning to phase in a feature on its AA.com website that allows AAdvantage program members to more easily find dates to book award travel using frequent-flyer miles.
  • American plans to spend more on advertising in 2007 than in previous years to have the loudest voice in New York. The company plans to promote its message and service enhancements via various media.

New Service to Cincy, Raleigh/Durham, Atlanta, Louisville, SF, Vegas and more
And, much more is coming. For example, effective April 10, American Eagle will add new service from LaGuardia Airport to Cincinnati. American Airlines will add one mainline jet flight to complement existing American Eagle service from LaGuardia to Raleigh/Durham, N.C., making it the only airline to offer mainline jet service between LaGuardia and Raleigh/Durham. Service from Atlanta to LaGuardia will be converted to all mainline jet service with four daily flights (details provided below). Later this year, American Eagle plans to begin service from LaGuardia to Louisville, Ky.

West-bound travelers from New York will also benefit. Later this summer, American will add a sixth daily flight from JFK to San Francisco. That will boost American's transcontinental service to 22 daily flights from JFK and Newark to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle.

New service from JFK to Las Vegas will begin in September to give New York-area customers a new leisure destination. The new service from JFK will also benefit American's international customers and international customers arriving on oneworld airlines through easy connections.

For passengers traveling to the Caribbean and South America, American plans to increase the number of weekly roundtrips later this year between JFK and Port-au- Prince, Haiti, and Caracas, Venezuela.

Premium Services for NY Travelers
The additional flights build on American's recent investments in premium-class products and facilities used by New York-area travelers. For example:

  • Passengers will get to enjoy American's Next Generation Business Class on the airline's 767-300 and 777 aircraft beginning this year, making business travel that much more comfortable for passengers on international flights originating from JFK.
  • American's $20 million investment in its 767-200 aircraft flown between JFK and Los Angeles and JFK and San Francisco will provide approximately 11,000 new First Class seats annually, lighter and brighter interiors, and new inflight entertainment to complement the already redesigned First and Business Class transcontinental menus.
  • Four Admirals Club® lounges – two at JFK, and one each at LaGuardia and Newark – offer customers a quiet oasis to work or relax before or after flights. A new Flagship Lounge at JFK for international First and Business Class passengers will open later this summer.
  • American recently enhanced its Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge policy to allow full fare or AAdvantage Award*** Business Class passengers flying on three-class Transcontinental aircraft complimentary access into the Admirals Club lounge and full fare or AAdvantage Award*** First Class passengers complimentary access to its Flagship Lounge.
  • More than 70 Self-Service Check-in machines are located at New York area airports, including 33 at JFK, 29 at LaGuardia and 10 at Newark. Last year, more than 3.2 million customers used the convenient machines to help speed them through the terminal and on to their flights. International check-in is available via self-service for passengers traveling beyond the U.S. from JFK and LaGuardia. Passengers can also purchase Admirals Club day passes, upgrades, and confirmed flight changes on the self-service machines.

“American's new terminal at JFK is world class in every respect,” said Chuck Imhof, American's Vice President of Passenger Sales – Greater New York. “From the dramatic 57,000-square foot lobby in the Main Terminal with its 65-foot ceiling, to the two new Admirals Club Lounges and Flagship Lounge providing approximately 30,000 square feet of luxury, the terminal is truly fitting of the stature of a great city like New York. All of us at American and American Eagle are thrilled that we can offer this to our customers.”

In the Community
Together, American and American Eagle employ approximately 8,300 people in the New York area, and approximately 4,500 retirees. The airlines' presence indirectly supports an additional 182,000 jobs in the region, making the two airlines key participants in the area's economy. Overall, American and American Eagle combined to spend $1.75 billion in New York in 2006. The company is estimated to have an $11.1 billion impact on the New York economy.

American's and American Eagle's impact in New York also is evident in community, civic and volunteer activities. American provides sponsorships and in-kind giving to organizations and events throughout the New York area such as the Roundabout Theater Company at the American Airlines Theater, Citymeals-on-Wheels, the Lincoln Center Theater, the annual Puerto Rico Day and Chinese Lunar Day parades, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In addition, airline employees are involved in service organizations throughout the metropolitan area, helping to bring people together to build better communities and to enhance the area's quality of life.

“American and American Eagle are proud to have been a part of the New York community – professionally and personally – for so many years,” said Imhof. “We are committed to New York and grateful for the longtime support we have received here. And we look forward to providing our customers even more in the years ahead.”

Following is a summary of the new routes and service enhancements:

New York Service Enhancements

Date

Destination

Airline

Change

 

 

 

 

April 10

Atlanta

American Airlines

1 additional daily flight (4 total)

 

 

 

 

April 10

Raleigh/Durham

American Airlines

New Service – 1 daily flight plus 8 existing flights on American Eagle

 

 

 

 

April 10

Cincinnati

American Eagle

New Service – 4 daily flights

 

 

 

 

June 14-
Sept. 5

Port au Prince

American Airlines

5 additional seasonal flights per week (12 max)

 

 

 

 

June 14

Caracas

American Airlines

2 additional flights per week

 

 

 

 

Aug. 15

San Francisco

American Airlines

1 additional daily flight (6 total)

 

 

 

 

Sept. 5

Louisville

American Eagle

New Service – 2 daily flights

 

 

 

 

Sept. 5

Las Vegas

American Airlines

New Service – 1 daily flight

*Free Award Ticket Taxes & Fees:
The passenger and/or the AAdvantage member is responsible for all taxes and fees, including Federal tax of $3.40 per takeoff and landing, airport fees of up to $18, and September 11 th Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement originating at a U.S. airport. For international/Puerto Rico/USVI destinations, additional taxes and fees up to $180 may apply. All award travel in conjunction with this promotion must be booked through AAdvantage® Reservations at 1-800-882-8880, and requires payment of a $15 award ticketing fee. Seats for award travel are subject to capacity controls and may not be available on all flights. Standard AAdvantage award terms and conditions apply. For complete offer terms and conditions, visit www.aa.com/offers.

**Free Upgrade Offer Terms and Conditions:
Purchase a qualifying Business Class ticket for travel on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines between New York (JFK) and London (LHR) through March 31, 2007, and receive an upgrade to First Class. A qualifying Business Class ticket is defined as a Business Class fare having the fare basis code “DUP”.

The DUP fare is subject to availability. If the DUP fare is available, customer will be confirmed in First Class for the same flight. The DUP fare may not be combined with any other discount.

To qualify, travel must originate in New York (JFK). Travel may be either one way or round trip. Travel must end by midnight March 31, 2007. Offer applies only to new reservations. For complete terms and conditions, visit www.aa.com/offers.

***Admirals Club Enhancements :
Excludes AAdvantage upgrades

About American Airlines
American Airlines is the world's largest airline. American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection® airlines serve 250 cities in over 40 countries with more than 4,000 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve more than 600 destinations in over 135 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation.

AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com and AAdvantage are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR).

About American Eagle
American Eagle operates more than 1,800 daily flights to more than 160 cities throughout the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Mexico and the Caribbean on behalf of American Airlines.