American Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways have finally won US government approval for a wide-ranging codeshare agreement that has been delayed for three years.
Approval was granted on 8 January, which allows Cathay to add its code to flights operated by American, or regionals American Eagle and Executive Airlines, to 20 US points, from its US and Canadian gateways. Cathay operates passenger services to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver.
American will in turn be able to add its code to Cathay-operated flights between the USA and Hong Kong, as well as beyond to third-country destinations.
American and Cathay first sought codeshare rights three years ago. Approval could not be granted until now, however, as codesharing was barred under the old air services agreement between Hong Kong and the USA.
A new air services accord was reached in October, formally allowing for codesharing. The two airlines filed their new request for approval to co-operate on flights early in November. but it was opposed by United Airlines.
Source: Airline Business
