American Airlines Launches New Daily Flight to Madrid From Dallas/Fort Worth

Spain’s Capital Is American and American Eagle’s 34th Nonstop International Destination From Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Amid the fanfare of flamenco dancing, Spanish food and music, American Airlines today is launching new daily nonstop service from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Madrid, Spain (MAD). American is flying the route with its 225-seat Boeing 767-300 widebody aircraft in a two-class configuration.

The inaugural departure, Flight 36, departs DFW at 5:30 p.m. and arrives in Madrid at 9:55 a.m. the next day – a flight lasting approximately 9 hours, 25 minutes. The first departure from Spain, Flight 37, will depart Madrid at 1:10 p.m. Saturday and arrive at DFW at 4:45 p.m. the same day – a flight lasting approximately 10 hours, 35 minutes. All times are local.

“We are delighted to inaugurate this new service between DFW and Madrid,” said Dan Garton, American’s Executive Vice President – Marketing. “This flight is about opening up new business destinations, new leisure destinations, connecting cultures, and bringing forth new economic opportunities that previously did not exist.”

Garton noted that American made the investment in this new route because of the belief that American’s Joint Business Agreement and antitrust immunity application with British Airways and Iberia will be approved later this year. Once approved, Garton said he believes it will be the first of many other opportunities to enhance and expand connections between the United States and Europe, including DFW and North Texas.

Madrid will be the 34th international destination served by American and American Eagle from its Dallas/Fort Worth hub, depending on the season. With its oneworld(R) Alliance partners, the new service will also provide convenient and seamless travel to 87 destinations served nonstop beyond Madrid into Europe, Africa and Asia.

From DFW, American and American Eagle operate approximately 740 daily departures to more than 150 nonstop destinations. Among American’s nonstop international destinations from DFW are cities in Argentina, the Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Guatemala, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Panama, the United Kingdom and Venezuela.

“We applaud American Airlines for adding this important international destination to the DFW portfolio,” said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport. “This new flight will add more than $130 million to the North Texas economy every year and provide our passengers hundreds of new connections through Madrid’s Barajas International Airport.

American, a founding member of the global oneworld(R) Alliance, also serves Spain with two other daily nonstop flights – to Madrid from Miami International Airport and to Barcelona from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

“This is terrific news for the citizens of Dallas and all of North Texas,” said Tom Leppert, Mayor of Dallas. “This flight is certain to increase business and tourism between Spain and Dallas and deepen our relationships with this important trading partner.”

“This is another clear example of DFW Airport’s significance here at home and abroad,” said Mayor Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth. “Madrid is a wonderful city, and we in North Texas are proud of this important connection. It will boost our local economies and unlock global opportunities with a lasting impact for those on both sides of the Atlantic.”

To celebrate, American is offering a special AAdvantage promotion on the new route between DFW and Madrid, offering up to 10,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for round trips booked through May 31, 2009, for travel between May 1, 2009 and May 31, 2009. Customers can earn 10,000 bonus miles in Business Class and 5,000 bonus miles in Economy Class. AAdvantage members should go to www.aa.com/offers and register prior to travel, as well as obtain further details and restrictions on the offer.

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection(R) airlines 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(R), 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(R) 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 over 140 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)

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SOURCE American Airlines