WASHINGTON - British Airways and American Airlines say they are eager to get to work on a codeshare arrangement, formally approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation today, which allows the airlines to codeshare on a large number of flights beyond the carriers’ gateways in the United Kingdom and the United States.
“We’ll begin work with British Airways immediately so that our customers can benefit from this codeshare as soon as possible,” said American Chief Executive Officer Gerard Arpey. “This is a significant milestone for our airlines, and we’re eager to bring the benefits of this relationship to our customers.”

The DOT’s approval today allows American to place its code on British Airways flights beyond American’s U.K. gateways to as many as 110 destinations in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. American will also place its code on British Airways’ transatlantic service between New York’s JFK and Manchester.

British Airways, in turn, will put its code on American`s flights beyond BA`s U.S. gateway cities to as many as 187 destinations within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America. British Airways will also place its code on American’s flights between Chicago and Glasgow and Manchester.
The codeshare allows both airlines to offer access to more online destinations, improve transfer and check-in processes, and bring consumers all the benefits that codesharing and enhanced competition allow. It will also benefit oneworld, the global alliance which serves more than 550 cities in 41 countries around the globe. American and British Airways are founding members of the oneworld global alliance.

American Airlines and British Airways have had a marketing agreement in place allowing the two airlines’ customers to earn and redeem frequent flyer points. American and British Airways first approached the Department of Transportation in 1996 for an alliance agreement that would require antitrust immunity. Through a series of regulatory proceedings, American and British Airways agreed to seek a codeshare that does not require antitrust immunity.

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