British Airways is to launch its first set of codeshare flights with oneworld partner American Airlines that ultimately will add more than 100 new destinations to its network.

British Airways’ customers will find it easier to book flights to US cities such as Nashville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and New Orleans. Destinations in Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean will also be added.

The US Department of Transportation gave final approval in May to the codesharing application made by the two airlines on destinations beyond British Airways’ 18 US gateway cities, (such as Chicago and Miami), and American Airlines’ UK gateways.
The codeshare relationship brings a substantial number of ‘new’ destinations under the BA flight code and marks a significant increase to the number of routes bookable directly through BA.com, BA reservations and travel agents.
The codeshare routes will be introduced in phases with the first cities; Raleigh Durham, Nashville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Minneapolis St Paul, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Panama City and San Antonio, bookable from August 31 for travel from September 17.

Customers of both airlines will benefit in future from simpler transfer and check-in processes. Transatlantic sectors are not included in the current codeshare and frequent flyer agreements.

The codeshare arrangement excludes all US-London transatlantic services operated by British Airways or American Airlines.
á British Airways and American Airlines are founder members of the oneworld alliance, which also includes Aer Lingus, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Lan Chile and Qantas.
á British Airways’ alliance partnership with American Airlines, through oneworld, covers frequent flyer and lounge arrangements for oneworld members and the ability to sell on each others` networks for connecting business.
á See below for background table on American Airlines and British Airways.

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