American Airlines Launches Codeshare Agreement With TAM Airlines

MIAMI, Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines today announces the launch of a new codeshare agreement with Sao Paulo-based TAM Airlines, increasing American's network connectivity in Brazil and further enhancing its relationship with LATAM Airlines Group. Customers can begin booking tickets on codeshare flights today for travel starting Aug. 22.

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Through the agreement, the two airlines will codeshare on each other's flights between the United States and Brazil. American's customers will also have access to TAM flights from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to eight additional destinations throughout Brazil, including Fortaleza, Natal and Vitoria, and TAM's customers will also have access to American flights from Miami, New York and Orlando, Fla., to 25 cities in the U.S., including Atlanta, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

The improved access provided through the relationship will also complement American's new Brazilian service to Curitiba (CWB) and Porto Alegre (POA) from Miami, pending government approval, and Sao Paulo (GRU) from Los Angeles, all of which will be available for booking Aug. 18. The new service from Miami to Curitiba and Porto Alegre will launch Nov. 21 and the service from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo will launch Dec. 16. With the additional routes, American will serve nine destinations in Brazil, further demonstrating its commitment to provide customers with expanded options through a growing network footprint in Latin America.

"Thanks to this codeshare agreement with TAM, we are better able to respond to the increasing customer demand for travel between the U.S. and Brazil," said Kurt Stache, American's Vice President – Strategic Alliances. "This new access to TAM's network significantly enhances American's footprint in Brazil and represents an important stepping stone in building an even stronger strategic partnership with LATAM."

"To have American Airlines as a partner is a great achievement," said Marco Antonio Bologna, CEO of TAM S.A. "With this agreement, we are expanding the network of destinations to one of the markets with the most demand from our passengers. Whether traveling for business or leisure, customers will now have access to the broad American network in the United States with the purchase of a single ticket. In addition, passengers from the U.S. will be able to discover more destinations in Brazil, while enjoying our top quality service."

Additionally, members of the American Airlines AAdvantage^® program will be able to earn miles on flights operated by TAM and will be able to redeem miles later this year, providing another valuable benefit of the relationship.

TAM, which plans to join the oneworld^® alliance in 2014, is a member of the LATAM Airlines Group. LATAM operates nearly 1,500 daily flights to 144 destinations in 27 countries.

For more details about American's network in Latin America, please visit aa.com/morelatinamerica.

About American Airlines

American Airlines focuses on providing an exceptional travel experience across the globe, serving more than 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories. American's fleet of nearly 900 aircraft fly more than 3,500 daily flights worldwide from hubs in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. American flies to nearly 100 international locations including important markets such as London, Madrid, Sao Paulo and Tokyo. With more than 500 new planes scheduled to join the fleet, including continued deliveries of the Boeing 737 family of aircraft and new additions such as the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, American is building toward the youngest and most modern fleet among major U.S. carriers. American's website, aa.com^®, provides customers with easy access to check and book fares, and personalized news, information and travel offers. American's AAdvantage^® program, voted Airline Program of the Year at the 2013 Freddie Awards, lets members earn miles for travel and everyday purchases and redeem miles for flights to almost 950 destinations worldwide, as well as flight upgrades, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and other retail products. The airline also offers nearly 40 Admirals Club^® locations worldwide providing comfort, convenience, and an environment with a full range of services making it easy for customers to stay productive without interruption. American is a founding member of the oneworld^® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest airlines in the world, including global brands like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia Airlines, Japan Airlines, LAN and Qantas. Together, its members serve more than 840 destinations served by some 9,000 daily flights to nearly 160 countries and territories. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir or Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol "AAMRQ" on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group.

About LATAM Airlines Group S.A.

LATAM Airlines Group S.A. is the new name given to LAN Airlines S.A. as a result of its association with TAM S.A. LATAM Airlines Group S.A. now includes LAN Airlines and its affiliates in Peru, Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador, and LAN Cargo and its affiliates, as well as TAM S.A. and its subsidiaries TAM Linhas Aereas S.A., including its business units TAM Transportes Aereos del Mercosur S.A., (TAM Airlines (Paraguay)) and Multiplus S.A. This association creates one of the largest airline groups in the world in terms of network connections, providing passenger transport services to about 135 destinations in 22 countries and cargo services to about 144 destinations in 27 countries, with a fleet of 321 aircraft. In total, LATAM Airlines Group S.A. has more than 53.000 employees and its shares are traded in Santiago, as well as on the New York Stock Exchange, in the form of ADRs, and Sao Paulo Stock Exchange, in the form of BDRs.

Each airline will continue to operate under their current brands and identities. For any inquiry of LAN or TAM, please visit www.lan.com or www.tam.com.br, respectively. Further information at www.latamairlinesgroup.net

SOURCE American Airlines