American Airlines Sees Great Opportunities Resulting From Japan-U.S. Open Skies Agreement
December 09 2009 - 12:01AM
PR Newswire (US)
Open Skies Accord Paves Way for Joint Ventures That Will Give
Consumers Better Travel Choices and Stronger Airlines TOKYO, Dec. 9
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Airlines today applauded
Japanese and U.S. negotiators for their progress in developing an
Open Skies accord that will govern aviation in years to come.
American, a founding member of the oneworld Alliance®, urges both
countries to reach a final accord in Washington, D.C., this week
during the round of talks being held to replace the existing
bilateral agreement. "Open Skies agreements end discriminatory
aviation policies and are in the best interest of Japanese and
American consumers and airlines alike," said Will Ris, American's
Senior Vice President - Government Affairs. "Airlines with
antiquated, anti-competitive policy viewpoints might believe that
it's OK to leave well enough alone. At American Airlines, it is our
experience that Open Skies agreements have proven to increase
travel choices and enhance competition, which results in greater
benefits to consumers." By reaching an Open Skies accord, the
Japanese and U.S. governments will pave the way for Japanese and
U.S. airlines to enter into joint ventures and seek antitrust
immunity, which is what American Airlines is proposing to do with
its oneworld and long-term partner Japan Airlines (JAL). Antitrust
immunity allows airlines to coordinate schedules, operations,
routes, seat inventories and fares, and approach corporate accounts
jointly rather than separately, which provide consumers with better
choices and greater cost savings. "It is now time for consumers and
business travelers between the two nations to benefit from the
choices and options that have been available to travelers in many
other parts of the world," said Theo Panagiotoulias, American
Airlines Vice President - Asia and Pacific. "American Airlines is
looking for opportunities to expand our services to and through
Japan, which underscores the importance of JAL's role to be
oneworld's gateway to Asia through Tokyo. A joint venture with JAL,
with whom we've had a 15-year relationship, would allow us to do
that. "Additionally, we strongly believe that an American
Airlines-Japan Airlines joint venture would easily win U.S.
government antitrust immunity, which will help ensure JAL's short-
and long-term success," Panagiotoulias said. "American, oneworld
and TPG, one of the world's leading private investment firms, are
prepared to offer a total value proposition of in excess of USD
$1.8 billion, including direct investment of up to $1.1 billion by
American/oneworld and TPG to assist JAL to bolster its financial
foundation. This further demonstrates American's strong support for
JAL and the Japanese aviation industry, as well as for Japanese
consumers and stimulating tourism and commerce for the good of the
Japanese economy." About American Airlines American Airlines,
American Eagle and AmericanConnection® serve 250 cities in 40
countries with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The
combined network fleet numbers more than 900 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
oneworld® 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 nearly 700 destinations in
more than 130 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc.
and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR
Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection,
AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are registered
trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE:AMR) AmericanAirlines®
We know why you fly® Current AMR Corp. releases can be accessed on
the Internet. The address is http://www.aa.com DATASOURCE: American
Airlines CONTACT: Charley Wilson, Corporate Communications of
American Airlines, +1-817-967-1577, Web Site: http://www.aa.com/
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