FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines grew its global network throughout 2011, adding more than 30 new destinations through strategic relationships with leading airlines around the globe. By focusing on intensifying codeshare relationships and loyalty program partnerships, including the ability for customers to enjoy reciprocal benefits when traveling to more than 1,050 new destinations, American now offers more travel choices and greater benefits to customers traveling worldwide on its partner airlines.

Earlier this year, American signed its joint business with Japan Airlines, further strengthening American's presence in Asia. Additional alliance agreements were announced as the year progressed, including formal government approval of its joint business with Qantas last fall - broadening American's connectivity throughout North America, China, Europe, the Middle East, South America and the South Pacific, providing greater benefits for customers around the globe.

American partners with various airlines around the world in the following ways:

oneworld® alliance

• The oneworld alliance continues to grow with members elect airberlin, Kingfisher Airlines and Malaysia Airlines. These additional airlines offer customers the oneworld  experience to more cities than ever throughout Europe, India and Southeast Asia.
• American's four joint business partners, British Airways/Iberia Airlines, Japan Airlines and Qantas, provide customers more flight options, better connectivity and more competitive fare options.
  • As a result of the trans-Atlantic agreement, customers can earn and redeem AAdvantage® miles on all British Airways routes and can earn 100 percent of base miles flown on any British Airways flight or any Iberia flight between the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico and Spain.
  • Because of the trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific agreements, customers can now book travel in the Premium Economy cabin on flights to London with British Airways and flights to Tokyo with Japan Airlines.

Codeshare Agreements

• Codeshare agreements with nearly 30 airlines provide customers more flight options and better connectivity to more destinations globally, including more flights between key business markets like Chicago - Hong Kong with oneworld  partner, Cathay Pacific, and Dallas/Fort Worth-Sydney with oneworld partner, Qantas. As another added benefit, AAdvantage members can earn miles on all flights coded with an American flight number as well as select flights with the code of other airlines.
  • Some key codeshare destinations added this year include:
    • Select cities in Canada through the agreement with WestJet Airlines
    • Fiji, located in the South Pacific through the agreement with Air Pacific
    • Additional cities in China through the agreement, awaiting government approval, with Hainan Airlines
    • Paris Orly through the new codeshare agreement with OpenSkies, a premium subsidiary of British Airways offering an all premium service between Newark and Paris

Frequent Flyer Agreements

• American has frequent flyer agreements with more than 25 airlines allowing customers to earn and redeem miles when traveling to hundreds of destinations around the globe.
  • Elite recognition benefits are now available to AAdvantage elite members when flying on Alaska Airlines.

With the recent added strength of oneworld, after gaining antitrust immunity across the Atlantic and Pacific in 2010, American is in excellent position to leverage its assets for domestic and international business. The oneworld alliance has the most premium seats in the four largest premium travel airports in the world (London Heathrow, New York JFK, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong), and American and its partners have uniquely positioned hubs at five of the top eight largest premium travel markets (New York JFK, London Heathrow, Los Angeles, Tokyo Narita, and Hong Kong).

"By strengthening and broadening our presence worldwide, American and oneworld are better positioned than ever to deliver enhanced benefits to our customers," said Kenji Hashimoto, American's Vice President – Strategic Alliances. "American will continue to build upon its success with alliance partners to deliver the premier alliance network worldwide."

American strengthened its network in 2011 through its cornerstone strategy by reallocating capacity to hubs in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New York and Los Angeles. These five cities serve as the cornerstones of American's U.S. network and improve the ability to connect passengers globally via its own flights and those of alliance partners.

American plans to strengthen its alliances in 2012 to continue to deliver unparalled benefits to customers across the globe.

American Airlines Alliance Partnerships Summary by Region

*denotes oneworld member

**denotes oneworld member elect

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection® carrier serve 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories with, on average, more than 3,300 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning website, 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 and members-elect serve more than 900 destinations with more than 10,000 daily flights to 149 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 trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR).

AMR Corporation, and certain of its United States-based subsidiaries, including American Airlines, Inc. and AMR Eagle Holding Corporation, on Nov. 29 filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. More information about the Chapter 11 filing is available on the Internet at http://aa.com/restructuring.

Current AMR Corp. news releases can be accessed at http://www.aa.com

SOURCE American Airlines

Corporate Communications, Fort Worth, Texas of American Airlines, +1-817-967-1577, mediarelations@aa.com