Cathay Pacific, American Airlines codeshare services commence on 29 January

Cathay Pacific Airways and American Airlines today announced that codeshare services operated by the oneworld alliance partners will commence on 29 January 2003. Tickets for the codeshare flights will be on sale from 27 January.

 Cathay Pacific customers will be able to buy tickets on "CX"-coded flights to 20 cities across the continent. They will fly on regular Cathay Pacific services to the airline's US gateways in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, and from there complete their journey on a scheduled American Airlines or American Eagle flight bearing a "CX" code.

American's customers will be able to travel under the "AA" code to Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific's US gateways as well as American's gateway in Tokyo. Customers will also be able to travel beyond Hong Kong to other cities in Asia.

Final approval for the codeshare agreement was given by the US Department of Transport early January, and implements terms of the latest joint air services agreement negotiated between the Hong Kong and US governments in October 2002.

Cathay Pacific Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive David Turnbull said: "Our codeshare agreement with American Airlines demonstrates the benefits that can be gained by airlines and passengers when oneworld partners work closer together. Cathay Pacific will be able to provide a much-improved service to our customers heading to and from North America. Moreover, the increased passenger traffic that will be generated by this partnership will help to strengthen Hong Kong's position as Asia's regional aviation hub - in itself a very important goal."

American Airlines Chairman and CEO Don Carty said: "Our customers will be able to make all of their arrangements to fly from the US to Hong Kong and on to other points in Asia by making one phone call to American Airlines. They will find this new feature of our oneworld relationship immensely valuable when it comes to the convenience of world travel."

US destinations that will be open to Cathay Pacific customers include: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston (George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby), Las Vegas, Miami, New York (Newark), Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Jose, San  Juan, St Louis and Washington DC / Baltimore (Dulles, Ronald Reagan Washington National and Baltimore Washington International).