American Airlines
announced today it will begin daily nonstop service between Chicago O’Hare
International Airport and Delhi, India, on Nov. 15, 2005, subject to
government approval.  Delhi is India’s capital and third-largest city.  The
route is nearly 7,500 miles and will be the longest nonstop route in
American’s growing international network.  The airline will fly the route with
its 236-seat Boeing 777-200 aircraft.Serving the route is made possible by a new agreement between American and
the Allied Pilots Association (APA) involving long-haul extended flying,
announced earlier today.  The United States and India announced in April an
“Open Skies” agreement between the two nations.
  “This new route is another step in our international growth strategy.
Delhi is an important and vital city and India is one of the fastest-growing
international markets for both passenger and cargo traffic,” said Henry
Joyner, American’s Senior Vice President - Planning.  “Also, our agreement
with the APA to fly this route is another success in our Working Together
process, which benefits the company, our customers and our employees.”
  In addition, American announced it has entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding to negotiate codeshare and frequent flyer agreements with India-
based Air Sahara, which operates direct flights to 23 cities in India and is
one of the most successful and fastest-growing private sector airlines in that
country.  The cooperative agreement, subject to government approval, will
allow American’s customers to make easy connections throughout India.
American will place its “AA” flight code on Air Sahara flights and Air Sahara
will place its “S2” code on American’s new service to Chicago and beyond
destinations within the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Members of American’s AAdvantage and Air Sahara’s Cosmos frequent flyer
programs will be able to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on both
airlines’ networks.
  “Back in the mid-‘80s, American created its mid-continent hub at O’Hare
and quickly became the largest carrier to Great Britain and Europe from
Chicago,” said Joyner.
  “With the addition of this new flight, American and American Eagle will
offer nonstop flights from Chicago to 125 cities in the United States, Canada,
Mexico, Japan, Europe and the Caribbean.  In April 2006, American begins
nonstop flights to Shanghai, China, which will be the 23rd international
destination served from O’Hare by American and American Eagle.”
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