American Airlines and Swiss to more closely coordinate New York - Zurich schedules
FORT WORTH, Texas / Zurich (ots)
Revised Flight Times to Enhance Customer Choice and Convenience
American Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) today announced they will more closely coordinate their schedules in the New York-Zurich market, thereby increasing customer choice and convenience on the route while maximizing the efficiencies of both airlines.
Effective Oct. 31, 2004, American will revise its eastbound schedule from New York's Kennedy Airport to Zurich, moving its departure time from 5:20 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., while SWISS will retain its existing 6:30 p.m. departure. American's new departure time will provide customers traveling from the New York area, as well as customers connecting from other North American, Caribbean and Latin American cities, a greater range of departure options to Zurich. Both the American and SWISS flights will enable passengers to make convenient connections in Zurich to SWISS-operated flights to Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa.
At the same time, SWISS will move its westbound Zurich to New York Kennedy departure from 12:30 p.m. to 10:00 a.m., while American will change its scheduled departure from 10:55 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Between them, American and SWISS will offer a broader choice of departures ideally suited for passengers in the local Zurich and New York markets, as well as for customers making connections in Zurich from upline points. In addition, both the American and SWISS flights will arrive in New York in time to connect to American's comprehensive network of services.
Here is a summary of the current and new scheduled departures from both New York Kennedy and Zurich:
FROM NEW YORK JFK TO ZURICH
CURRENT EFFECTIVE OCT. 31, 2004
American 5:20 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
SWISS 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.FROM ZURICH TO NEW YORK JFK
CURRENT EFFECTIVE OCT. 31, 2004
American 10:55 a.m. 1:00 p.m.
SWISS 12:30 p.m. 10:00 a.m.The changes to the New York-Zurich schedule will not affect American's existing nonstop service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Zurich. Similarly, SWISS' other routes from Switzerland to the New York area, including Geneva-JFK and Zurich-Newark, N.J., will remain the same.
"By realigning our schedules between New York and Zurich, both American and SWISS will generate more, and better travel options for our passengers," said Henry Joyner, American's Senior Vice President-Planning. "American's customers place a high value on the convenience of our schedule and the breadth of our route network. This schedule adjustment with SWISS will enhance our service in both areas."
The schedule change on the New York-Zurich route is the latest example of American's and SWISS' cooperative efforts to enhance customer service and convenience for their passengers. The two airlines have a reciprocal frequent-flyer arrangement that enables members to accrue and redeem miles in American's AAdvantage® program or SWISS' TravelClub® program on each other's network. In addition, American and SWISS have an extensive codesharing agreement in place covering dozens of destinations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as points in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa.
Customers benefit from codesharing because airlines are able to coordinate schedules, and handle baggage and ticketing more efficiently. Consumers can book flights to more destinations as if they were being served by a single carrier.
ABOUT AMERICAN AIRLINES
American Airlines is the world's largest carrier. American, American Eagle, and the AmericanConnection® regional carriers serve more than 250 cities in over 40 countries with nearly 4,200 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworldTM Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve more than 575 destinations in 135 countries.
Kontakt:
American Airlines European Corporate Communications:
Richard Hedges
Tel. +44 (0) 208 577 4712
e-mail: richard.hedges@aa.com
Anneliese Morris
Tel. +44 (0) 208 577 4804
e-mail: anneliese.morris@aa.com
SWISS Corporate Communications
Tel. +41-0-848-773-773