Cathay Pacific wins codeshare approval with American Airlines

Cathay Pacific Airways has won final approval to commence codeshare services to 20 cities in the United States with oneworld alliance partner American Airlines.

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

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

American Airlines for its part will be able to place its code on Cathay Pacific flights to Hong Kong and points beyond within the region.

Cathay Pacific Director Corporate Development Tony Tyler said: "We are very pleased to have won approval for our codeshare agreement with oneworld partner American Airlines. Our cooperation with such an important US carrier makes Cathay Pacific far more competitive in the North American market, and strengthens Hong Kong's position as Asia's regional aviation hub. It also reflects how we are constantly striving to find new opportunities to work in the interests of our customers, who will enjoy smoother connections to more destinations."

US destinations that will be open to Cathay Pacific customers include: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, New York (Newark/JFK), Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Jose, San Juan, St Louis and Washington DC / Baltimore (DCA, IAD, BWI).

Cathay Pacific is a founder member of oneworld, the leading global airline alliance, together with Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways Finnair, Iberia, LanChile and Qantas.