BA, Iberia and American celebrate anniversary of transatlantic partnership
American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia are celebrating the success of their transatlantic partnership at the deal reaches its first anniversary.
More than 12 million people have travelled on joint business flights in the last year to 40 cities in North America and Europe.
Building on the success of the first year, the number of joint business flights between New York JFK and London Heathrow is set to increase from 11 to 13 on March 25th, 2012.
The additional services – one American Airlines and one British Airways – are already on sale, with flights to New York from London Heathrow now departing hourly from 13:00-20:00.
The airlines have joined up to sell each other’s flights on a total of 2,383 markets, up from 594 prior to the launch of the joint business.
American Airlines
At American Airlines, next steps include taking delivery of the biggest aircraft order in aviation history.
Beginning in 2013, American will introduce to its fleet 260 A320 and 200 B737 family aircraft. This, together with the airline’s existing orders for B737s, B777-300s and B787s, will transform American’s fleet to become the youngest and most fuel-efficient among its US airline peers in approximately five years.
British Airways
British Airways has just launched its biggest brand campaign in a decade with the promise ‘To Fly. To Serve’.
The campaign focuses on the people of British Airways and what they do every day to make flying special.
The airline is also investing heavily.
New B777-300ERs are being integrated to the fleet and British Airways takes delivery of A380s and B787s in 2013.
Iberia
Iberia is also investing in the renovation of part of its long haul fleet.
Between autumn 2012 and spring 2014 it will receive up to 16 Airbus A330-300 aircraft, which are 15 per cent more fuel efficient than the aircraft that they replace.
As part of this improved environmental performance, Iberia is involved in different projects to use biofuel.
Last week the company staged Spain’s first commercial flight powered by biofuel; it was an Iberia Airbus A320 flying from Madrid to Barcelona, using a mixture of 75 per cent conventional jet fuel and 25 per cent biofuel derived from the camelina sativa plant.