American Airlines Launches Codeshare Agreement With LAN Colombia

MIAMI, Aug. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines today announces the launch of a new codeshare agreement with Bogota-based LAN Colombia, adding new service to key destinations in Colombia and further strengthening American's relationship with LATAM Airlines Group. Customers can begin booking travel on the codeshare flights Aug. 1 for travel beginning Aug. 8.

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The new codeshare agreement will give American's customers seamless connecting service within Colombia and provide LAN Colombia's customers access to new destinations in the United States. The two airlines will codeshare on flights between the U.S. and Colombia and provide American's customers access to four new destinations in Colombia – Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cartagena and Pereira, while giving LAN Colombia's customers access to 12 new cities in the U.S. from Miami, including Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and New York.

"Forming strategic partnerships with other airlines is a key component of our network expansion efforts and our longstanding relationship with LATAM has proven to be extremely beneficial to our respective customers," said Kurt Stache, American's Vice President – Strategic Alliances. "Through this new codeshare agreement with LAN Colombia, American is able to further enhance our network footprint in Latin America and strengthen our partnership with the region's largest and most premier airline group."

"This new codeshare with American demonstrates LAN Colombia's strategy to expand its offer outside of Colombia in 2013, since access to international destinations is strengthened not only with new routes, but also through agreements with other airlines of the magnitude and international recognition of American Airlines," said Maria Lara, Director of Corporate Affairs for LAN Colombia. "Furthermore, strengthening our international network is important for the continued growth of our network and flights in Colombia."

In addition, LAN Colombia plans to join the oneworld® alliance in the fourth quarter of this year. LAN Colombia operates more than 990 weekly flights to cities throughout Colombia as well as destinations in Brazil and the U.S. From its Bogota hub, LAN Colombia offers 125 daily flights, including service to 20 Colombian cities.

Through the codeshare agreement, members of the American Airlines AAdvantage® program will be able to earn and redeem miles on flights operated by LAN Colombia, providing another valuable benefit of the enhanced relationship.

In addition to the codeshare agreement with LAN Colombia, later this year American will launch new service from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Bogota (BOG), demonstrating its mission to provide customers with expanded options through a growing network footprint in Latin America. American currently operates up to 35 weekly flights from its hub in Miami to Bogota (BOG), Cali (CLO) and Medellin (MDE).

American provides more service than any other airline between the United States and Latin America with more than 900 weekly flights to 61 destinations in 18 countries, including 12 destinations in Mexico served by American Eagle. For more details about American's network in Latin America, please visit aa.com/morelatinamerica.

About American Airlines
American Airlines focuses on providing an exceptional travel experience across the globe, serving more than 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories. American's fleet of nearly 900 aircraft fly more than 3,500 daily flights worldwide from hubs in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. American flies to nearly 100 international locations including important markets such as London, Madrid, Sao Paulo and Tokyo. With more than 500 new planes scheduled to join the fleet, including continued deliveries of the Boeing 737 family of aircraft and new additions such as the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, American is building toward the youngest and most modern fleet among major U.S. carriers. American's website, aa.com®, provides customers with easy access to check and book fares, and personalized news, information and travel offers. American's AAdvantage® program, voted Airline Program of the Year at the 2013 Freddie Awards, lets members earn miles for travel and everyday purchases and redeem miles for flights to almost 950 destinations worldwide, as well as flight upgrades, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and other retail products. The airline also offers nearly 40 Admirals Club® locations worldwide providing comfort, convenience, and an environment with a full range of services making it easy for customers to stay productive without interruption. American is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest airlines in the world, including global brands like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia Airlines, Japan Airlines, LAN and Qantas. Together, its members serve more than 840 destinations served by some 9,000 daily flights to nearly 160 countries and territories. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir or Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol "AAMRQ" on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group.

About LATAM Airlines Group S.A.
LATAM Airlines Group S.A. is the new name given to LAN Airlines S.A. as a result of its association with TAM S.A. LATAM Airlines Group S.A. now includes LAN Airlines and its affiliates in Peru, Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador, and LAN Cargo and its affiliates, as well as TAM S.A. and its subsidiaries TAM Linhas Aereas S.A., including its business units TAM Transportes Aereos del Mercosur S.A., (TAM Airlines (Paraguay)) and Multiplus S.A. This association creates one of the largest airline groups in the world in terms of network connections, providing passenger transport services to about 135 destinations in 22 countries and cargo services to about 144 destinations in 27 countries, with a fleet of 317 aircraft. In total, LATAM Airlines Group S.A. has more than 53,000 employees and its shares are traded in Santiago, as well as on the New York Stock Exchange, in the form of ADRs, and Sao Paulo Stock Exchange, in the form of BDRs.

Each airline will continue to operate under their current brands and identities. For any inquiry of LAN or TAM, please visit www.lan.com or www.tam.com.br, respectively. Further information at www.latamairlinesgroup.net

SOURCE American Airlines