AMERICAN EAGLE TO LAUNCH ‘BUSINESS EXPRESS’ LINKING NEW YORK LaGUARDIA WITH WASHINGTON, D.C., AND BOSTON

18 July 2002

American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, will soon provide a new alternative for East Coast business travelers in two of the largest business markets in the country. American Eagle will launch regional jet service between New York’ s LaGuardia Airport and Boston’s Logan Airport, and between LaGuardia and Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport.

Travelers also will be able to earn double AAdvantage® miles on these routes through the end of the year. AAdvantage members must register for the promotion before flying.

American Airlines, along with its regional affiliate, already offers more service from New York to the West Coast, the Caribbean and to the Midwest than any other carrier. With American Eagle’s new service, American will become a great choice for flights between these key East Coast cities as well.

American Eagle is adding 10 round trips per weekday between New York and Boston and 10 between New York and Washington, D.C., offering the frequency that business travelers need along with the comfort, convenience and quiet ride of regional jets. This service, along with American Eagle’s existing Boston-to-Washington flights, will be called "Business Express," signifying the special high-frequency service to be offered in these important markets.

"These markets have been served by two competitors for years," said Tom Gleason, vice president - Passenger Sales for American’s Eastern Division. "New York customers are ready for a new choice."

"American Airlines and American Eagle have built up a significant audience of loyal customers in the Northeast who have requested this service for some time. They will now be able to earn AAdvantage miles on their daily business trips on American Eagle," added Gleason.

American Eagle’s regional jets offer the speed and comfort of a large jet, and with 10 flights per day, customers can easily depart and return on the same day with plenty of time to conduct business as their schedules dictate. In each city, passengers will board and deplane using jetbridges.

American Eagle already serves Boston from four other New York area airports, New York’s JFK, Newark, White Plains, and Islip. American Eagle currently serves 10 other destinations from LaGuardia, including Detroit, Cleveland, and Columbus, Ohio.

"American Eagle’s regional jet product has already proven itself an attractive option for New York business travelers," said Gleason. "America Eagle now offers an all-jet operation at LaGuardia and it recently announced that its operation at Boston would become all-jet by August."

American Eagle already has five flights per day between Boston and Reagan National (DCA) to offer complete coverage between the three cities. And a sixth daily round trip will be added on Aug. 1. On Sept. 24, the 10 round trips between Boston and New York LaGuardia will begin. A week later, on Oct. 1, the 10 round trips between Reagan National and New York LaGuardia will start. The new service will be available for sale beginning Sunday, July 21.

The regional jets feature comfortable, navy blue leather seats in a "one-by-two" seating arrangement that provides each passenger an aisle or window seating or both. The jets also have a closet for hanging bags, large overhead bins and a spacious lavatory. Powered by two Rolls-Royce engines, the jets are among the quietest airplanes in the world and can cruise up to 519 miles per hour at 37,000 feet.

The Business Express service will feature complimentary beverage service, including beer and wine for departures after 11 a.m. Snacks will be served on all flights, and newspapers will be provided on all morning departures.

With a 264-aircraft fleet that includes more than 130 regional jets, American Eagle offers more than 1,400 daily flights to more than 130 cities throughout the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Mexico and the Caribbean. All of American Eagle’s aircraft have reinforced cockpit doors for security and automatic external defibrillators to aid in in-flight medical emergencies. Members of American’s AAdvantage frequent traveler program earn a minimum of 500 miles for every American Eagle flight.