American Airlines to launch new service to Brussels

American Airlines is to open a second U.S. gateway to Belgium in May 2004 with the launch of daily nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Brussels. American currently provides a daily nonstop service between Chicago O’Hare International Airport and the European Union’s "capital city."

American said it will also expand its relationship with SN Brussels when Belgium’s premier international airline places its own airline code on the new flight. American and SN Brussels currently have a codesharing agreement on the Chicago to Brussels flight and on connecting service via Brussels to key business and leisure destinations throughout Europe and Western Africa.

"American continues to expand the options available to our customers for travel to and from the important business centers of Europe," said Henry Joyner, senior vice president-Planning for American Airlines. "The breadth of our network, at home and internationally, coupled with the AAdvantage customer loyalty program and the great service our people offer on the ground and in the air make American a smart choice for travelers seeking convenient, rewarding and affordable travel."

Belgium has been part of American’s system since 1989. The airline’s codeshare agreement with SN Brussels, initiated in May 2003, offers customers the opportunity to fly beyond Brussels to important European destinations such as Milan, Munich and Vienna as well as strategic destinations in Africa, including Dakar and Kinshasa. Conversely, SN Brussels customers are able to travel to major metropolitan areas in the United States such as Denver, Detroit, Houston and Minneapolis/St. Paul via Chicago. Customers will also be able to connect to cities like San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, Calif., as well as Caribbean destinations via New York.

"Thanks to the new codeshare agreement with American, the world’s largest airline, we offer our clients not only a direct link to New York, but also smooth travel solutions to the entire U.S. East Coast," said Rob Kuijpers, executive chairman of SN Brussels. "With this new route, we further connect the huge network of American Airlines with our own dense European and African flight schedule."

American’s new daily service from New York will be flown on board a Boeing 767-300 aircraft with seating for 30 Business Class and 182 Coach Class passengers.