American Airlines has signed agreements to codeshare with both São Paulo-based TAM Airlines and Bogota-based LAN Colombia as part of American’s effort to build a stronger bilateral relationship between American and the LATAM Airlines Group, Latin America’s largest airline grouping.
Once approved, these new codeshare relationships will provide expanded opportunities for American Airlines to serve new markets in Brazil and Colombia and for TAM Airlines and LAN Colombia in the United States, according to the U.S. carrier.
American Airlines operates many of its long-haul services with Boeing 777-200ERs. The airline had 47 in service as of December 2012
In addition, American reveals it is planning to launch a new route linking Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) with El Dorado International Airport (BOG), which serves Colombia’s capital Bogota, in late 2013.
American will also add service to Curitiba (CWB) and Porto Alegre (POA) in Brazil from Miami beginning in late 2013. With the addition of Curitiba and Porto Alegre, American will serve nine destinations in Brazil.
“American’s new partnerships with TAM and LAN Colombia further strengthen our longstanding relationship with LATAM Airlines Group, Latin America’s largest and most premier airline group,” says Virasb Vahidi, American’s chief commercial officer.
“As we continue to expand our presence in Latin America, the new routes to Brazil and Colombia are a direct response to the increasing customer demand for travel between the U.S. and Latin America,” adds Vahidi.
American Airlines operates 58 Boeing 767-300ERs. For many years the 767-300ER has formed the core of American’s long-haul fleet. The carrier primarily uses the type on routes to Europe and South America
Once the codeshare agreements are approved, these new relationships will provide American’s customers seamless connecting service within Colombia and Brazil, according to American.
At the same time, this partnership will allow TAM Airlines and LAN Colombia’s customers access to new destinations in the U.S. such as Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Las Vegas and Seattle.
TAM Airlines operates nearly 5,600 weekly flights to 42 destinations throughout Brazil as well as 18 international destinations in the United States, Latin America and Europe.
LAN Colombia operates more than 930 weekly flights to cities throughout Colombia as well as destinations in Brazil and the United States. From its Bogota hub, LAN Colombia offers 134 daily flights, including service to 20 Colombian cities.
American offers codeshare service, with fellow oneworld alliance member LAN Airlines, to cities throughout South America from LAN’s hubs in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador and Peru.
This is how the First Class cabin interior looks in American Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ERs
According to American, its new route between DFW and Bogota would complement American’s existing service to Colombia through Miami International Airport (MIA), where it offers up to 35 non-stop flights per week to Bogota, Cali and Medellin.
American says its MIA and DFW hubs allow it to serve 90 per cent of U.S.-Latin America traffic more efficiently than any other airline’s combination of hubs. American offers more service to South America than any other U.S. airline.
DFW-based American also offers the most service between North America and Brazil. American currently flies from Miami to Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Manaus, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo; from New York JFK to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo; and from Dallas/Fort Worth to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Early next year the Dallas/Fort Worth-São Paulo flight will be the first to feature the newest addition to American’s fleet, the Boeing 777-300ER.
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