American Airlines and Swiss
International Air Lines (SWISS) today announced they will more closely
coordinate their schedules in the New York-Zurich market, thereby
increasing customer choice and convenience on the route while maximizing
the efficiencies of both airlines. Effective Oct. 31, 2004, American will revise its eastbound schedule from
New York’s Kennedy Airport to Zurich, moving its departure time from 5:20
p.m. to 9:00 p.m., while SWISS will retain its existing 6:30 p.m.
departure. American’s new departure time will provide customers traveling
from the New York area, as well as customers connecting from other North
American, Caribbean and Latin American cities, a greater range of
departure options to Zurich. Both the American and SWISS flights will
enable passengers to make convenient connections in Zurich to
SWISS-operated flights to Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa.

At the same time, SWISS will move its westbound Zurich to New York Kennedy
departure from 12:30 p.m. to 10:00 a.m., while American will change its
scheduled departure from 10:55 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Between them, American
and SWISS will offer a broader choice of departures ideally suited for
passengers in the local Zurich and New York markets, as well as for
customers making connections in Zurich from upline points. In addition,
both the American and SWISS flights will arrive in New York in time to
connect to American’s comprehensive network of services.
The changes to the New York-Zurich schedule will not affect American’s
existing nonstop service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Zurich. Similarly,
SWISS’ other routes from Switzerland to the New York area, including
Geneva- JFK and Zurich-Newark, N.J., will remain the same.

“By realigning our schedules between New York and Zurich, both American
and SWISS will generate more, and better travel options for our
passengers,” said Henry Joyner, American’s Senior Vice President-Planning.
“American’s customers place a high value on the convenience of our
schedule and the breadth of our route network. This schedule adjustment
with SWISS will enhance our service in both areas.”

The schedule change on the New York-Zurich route is the latest example of
American’s and SWISS’ cooperative efforts to enhance customer service and
convenience for their passengers. The two airlines have a reciprocal
frequent-flyer arrangement that enables members to accrue and redeem miles
in American’s AAdvantage(R) program or SWISS’ TravelClub(R) program on
each other’s network. In addition, American and SWISS have an extensive
codesharing agreement in place covering dozens of destinations throughout
the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, as
well as points in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa.

Customers benefit from codesharing because airlines are able to coordinate
schedules, and handle baggage and ticketing more efficiently. Consumers
can book flights to more destinations as if they were being served by a
single carrier.
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