American Airlines, a founding member of the oneworld alliance, today announced it will launch new nonstop two-class Boeing 757 service between Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on June 14, 2012. The new service will complement American’s three existing daily round-trip flights between LAX and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

“The new flight between Washington Reagan and Los Angeles is made possible because of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill that was recently passed by Congress and signed by President Obama,” said Will Ris, American’s Senior Vice President – Government Affairs. “We have long wanted to offer our customers the ability to travel across the country between Los Angeles and Washington’s Reagan National Airport. Due to restrictions on flights into Reagan National it was not possible until now, and it wouldn’t have happened at all without the bipartisan support for aviation expressed by U.S. Senators John Rockefeller, (D) W.Va. and Kay Bailey Hutchison, ® Texas; and U.S. Representatives John Mica, ® Fla. and Nick Rahall, (D) of W.Va.”

“We are very pleased that American Airlines has chosen to begin service between Los Angeles and Washington National as it shows the commitment the airline is making in our great city,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “The establishment of a direct flight to our nation’s capital makes it easier for those who want to visit the halls of Congress or visit our nation’s monuments and national treasures. Every time a new flight is added at Los Angeles International Airport, jobs are created and our economy grows and prospers.”

“We are very excited to be able to fly between our nation’s capital and its second largest city,” said Virasb Vahidi, American’s Chief Commercial Officer. “This new flight is a great addition to 150 daily American and American Eagle departures to 42 destinations from Los Angeles, and means Californians have multiple ways to get to the East Coast from here.”

Tickets go on sale for this new flight on Sunday, March 4, 2012. The route will be flown using Boeing 757 aircraft with 22 First Class seats and 166 Main Cabin seats. As part of American’s fleet renewal effort, the airline is currently upgrading its Boeing 757 aircraft used on domestic routes. Modifications include new Main Cabin and First Class seats, new sidewalls that give the interior a lighter and brighter look, and new LCD monitors to enhance inflight entertainment viewing. In addition, American, the first airline to launch inflight Wi-Fi Internet service in North America, will expand its Wi-Fi product offering to nearly all aircraft used to fly within the continental United States, including select 757s.

American and American Eagle offer about 150 daily flights at LAX, with service to destinations in Asia, Mexico and Europe from Los Angeles. Six of American’s oneworld partners also serve LAX – British Airways, Japan Airlines, Iberia, Cathay Pacific, LAN and Qantas, which is the most partners operating in the same location than at any airport in the world. American also operates joint business agreements with Japan Airlines, Qantas, British Airways and Iberia Airlines. Joint businesses provide customers with more price and schedule flexibility to more destinations throughout Asia, Australia and Europe.