American Launches New York JFK-Budapest Service

American Airlines has launched daily New York-Budapest service, becoming the only airline to offer year-round nonstop service between the two cities.

The route links New York JFK with Budapest Ferihegy Airport (BUD), the home base of oneworld member Malév Hungarian Airlines. According to American Airlines, Budapest will offer American’s travelers a range of connections to Central and Eastern Europe through Malév’s route network.

Together with Iberia and British Airways, its partners in a new transatlantic joint business within the oneworld alliance, American is also offering increased service to Barcelona and Madrid, Spain’s two largest cities.

In addition to its new New York-Budapest flight, American’s new intrernational schedule includes expanded service from JFK to Barcelona’s El Prat Airport (BCN) from seven to 11 nonstop flights per week, beginning April 6; and increased service from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Madrid’s Barajas Airport from 7 to 13 nonstop flights per week, also beginning on April 6.

Iberia launched new three-times-weekly nonstop service between Miami and Barcelona on March 29.

The expanded service follows the first-ever alignment by American, British Airways and Iberia of their schedules for flights across the North Atlantic. The newly aligned schedule, which took effect on March 27, offers customers 15 daily flights between New York and London. American passengers arriving in London can also make connections to nearly 50 European cities through British Airways.

American Airlines Boeing 767-300ER N363AA is photographed taking off from London Heathrow Airport

American Airlines and its regional affiliate American Eagle now have an average of 236 flights each day from New York JFK, strengthening American’s New York cornerstone market to 63 destinations. Destinations include cities throughout Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and North America.

From Miami, another cornerstone market, American and American Eagle operate an average of 297 flights daily to 108 destinations including cities throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and North America.

American’s flight AA158 from New York JFK to Budapest is timed to depart JFK at 6:40 p.m. and arrive at BUD at 9:30 a.m. the following day, local time. The airline is operating the route with Boeing 767-300ERs configured to seat 225 passengers, 30 in Business Class and 195 in Economy Class.

In the other direction, flight AA159 is timed to leave BUD at 11:55 a.m. from April 6, arriving at JFK at 3:35 p.m local time. American says it has teamed with Malév to schedule the new flights so that customers can make easy connections at American’s JFK hub and Malév’s Budapest hub. For more information, visit www.aa.com/Budapest.

Through June 30, American Airlines passengers who fly round-trip between JFK and Budapest can earn 15,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for travel in Business Class and 10,000 bonus miles for full-fare Economy Class. Register prior to travel using promotion code NYBUD and obtain complete details at www.aa.com/moreeurope.

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is divided by the River Danube, which flows through the center of the city. Visitors to Budapest will find the city has an impressive array of castles, museums, churches and restaurants, along with a dozen spas, which are fed by 100 natural warm springs.

“There’s a lot of excitement about the new, daily American Airlines flight from JFK to Budapest,” says New York Consul General for Hungary, Ambassador Károly Dán. “Budapest has been a cultural and financial center in the region and a prime location for conferences, which has been highlighted during the country’s current Presidency of the European Union. Our city is one of the most scenic and romantic locations in the world, has great traditions that coexist with its history of modernism, and we are proud of our hospitality.”

Iberia’s new service from Barcelona to Miami operates on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Given the codeshare flight number AA6127 for American Airlines customers, Iberia’s flight departs from Barcelona at 1:30 p.m. and arrives at Miami International Airport at 6:10 p.m. local time.

The return flight, given the codeshare flight number AA6126 for American’s customers, departs from Miami at 7:45 p.m. and arrives at Barcelona at 11:00 a.m. the following day.

American Airlines AAdvantage members can earn double miles every time they fly this new route on Iberia. Customers need to register prior to travel using promotion code IBBCN at www.aa.com/offers.

With more than 6 million people who live in the area, Barcelona is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Spain’s gross domestic product. The nearby Mediterranean beaches also make it a popular leisure and cruise destination, as does its tradition of fine architecture and artwork.