An expanded codeshare agreement and increased frequencies to Europe lead this week’s air travel news.
American Airlines and Qantas are expanding their codeshare agreement with improved frequent flier benefits and additional codeshare markets. This expansion is being implemented following the U.S. Department of Transportation’s final approval of Qantas and American’s joint business.
The agreement offers AAdvantage members faster earning rates for miles and elite status on eligible flights between the United States and Australia or New Zealand. Members may earn up to two times more elite qualifying miles (EQMs) and elite qualifying dollars (EQDs) for most cabin classes on all eligible Qantas flights systemwide. Additionally, Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now earn more Qantas Points and Status Credits on American flights
The agreement has also allowed American to expand its codeshare on new routes operated by Qantas, for a new total of 32 codeshare markets. These include Los Angeles to Sydney; Dallas – Fort Worth to Sydney; San Francisco to Melbourne; San Francisco to Brisbane; and Chicago O’Hare to Brisbane. Qantas has expanded its codeshare with American, adding more than 50 new codeshare city pairs from Dallas – Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare. From Dallas, the new destinations include Spokane, Charleston, Dayton, Savannah and Vail, while from Chicago O’Hare, the new codeshare routes include New York – LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Boston, Miami, Washington Reagan, Philadelphia and Charlotte.
In other new flight news, low-cost carrier Norwegian announced plans to increase frequencies between the United States and Europe for the summer 2020 season. Most notably, the Los Angeles – Paris route will increase to 10 weekly flights; New York – Paris to nine weekly flights; and San Francisco - London to daily service. Routes such as Los Angeles-Barcelona; Los Angeles-Madrid; San Francisco-Barcelona; Austin-London; Denver-London; Los Angeles-Rome; and Boston-Paris will also have frequencies enhanced due to popular demand, the airline said.
For the winter 2019/2020 program, which commences the last week of October, Norwegian will consolidate all its greater New York City routes to operate solely from New York - JFK. Barcelona and Rome routes that currently operate from Newark Liberty International Airport, will as of October 27 be served from JFK.
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