In a move that could give Ft. Worth-based American Airlines a competitive toehold in Europe, Switzerland’s new national airline, Swiss, says it wants to join American’s Oneworld Alliance.
Officials at American said they plan to seek permission from the federal government to allow the two carriers to share flights and marketing in the U.S. and in Europe.
American has been trying to reach Europe through a flight-sharing agreement with British Airways. But U.S. regulators repeatedly have imposed conditions that American and British Airways said were too steep for them to accept.
Under a limited code-sharing agreement announced this week, American would be able to gain access to many of the international routes operated by Swiss but wouldn’t be able to coordinate flights, set prices together or share revenue.
If approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the agreement would provide U.S. travelers with another gateway to Europe. Flights into Swiss’ Zurich hub would connect with the intra-Europe flights flown by Crossair, which survived last year’s collapse of its parent, Swissair.
The Oneworld Alliance is an alliance in name only, allowing its members to share ideas but little else. In contrast, the members of the United Airlines-led Star Alliance and Delta Air Lines-led SkyTeam Alliance share revenue.
Alliance canceled: While American is working to create an alliance, Continental Airlines is moving to abolish an 8-year-old alliance with Tempe, Ariz.-based America West Airlines.
Under that alliance, Continental and America West jointly marketed some flights and helped passengers book tickets on either carrier. The alliance has been worth $15 million to $20 million annually to financially troubled America West.
This year the airline was forced to seek a $429 million federally guaranteed loan under terms of the Airline Stabilization Act passed last year in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. Without the loan, the airline had warned it faced bankruptcy.
Continental said it will terminate the joint marketing of flights on April 26 and will terminate the reciprocal frequent-flier and airport club agreements on Sept. 24.
Houston-based Continental last year signed a more lucrative and expansive marketing agreement with Northwest Airlines.
Mineta to speak: Norman Mineta, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, will deliver Northwestern University’s annual William A. Patterson transportation lecture on April 24.
Patterson was the founder of United Airlines.