Finnair Enters Transatlantic Joint Business with American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia
01-Jul-2013 Finnair has joined the transatlantic joint business founded by fellow oneworld® alliance members American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia. As of tomorrow, July 2, Finnair customers flying to North America can book flights to dozens more North American cities on one single ticket. Customers of the other three airlines now also have better access to 13 cities in Finland and the rest of Europe, thanks to efficient Nordic and Baltic connections from Finnair's Helsinki hub.
Earlier today, Finnair announced its intention to join the joint business agreement between oneworld members Japan Airlines and British Airways on traffic between Japan and the European Union. Both moves are examples of Finnair pursuing tighter cooperation within the oneworld alliance to improve network connectivity and better serve the needs of intercontinental customers.
The transatlantic joint business, first undertaken in October 2010 by American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia, enables customers the following benefits when flying between North America and the European Union (plus Switzerland and Norway):
• The ability to mix and match flights on all four carriers for the most convenient scheduling and best pricing
• Smoother connections for onward destinations through coordinated schedules and oneworld Global Support centres in Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, London Heathrow, Los Angeles, Madrid Barajas, Miami and New York JFK
• Ability to book transatlantic codeshare flights for Finnair, American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia and via any of the airlines' websites
• Greater benefits for Finnair Plus, Executive Club, Iberia Plus and AAdvantage loyalty program customers, including better opportunities to obtain and use miles on your transatlantic flight
• Integrated customer support - online, through call centres and at the airport
• Greater connectivity on all four airlines in case of disruption
As part of the transatlantic joint business, Finnair has added its (AY*) code to selected American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia flights between North America and Europe. American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia have also added their respective (AA*), (BA*) and (IB*) code to Finnair's daily flights between New York and Helsinki. All together, the joint business now operates up to 102 daily round trips between North America and Europe, serving 42 gateways on either side of the Atlantic. Customers also have access to a further 163 onward connections in North America and 126 in Europe.
More flying Finns
Because of Finnair's comprehensive European route network, besides New York and Chicago Finns now have the ability to book efficient, competitively priced one-stop connections to dozens more North American destinations via stopovers in such European cities as London, Madrid and Milan. Finland and the Baltic Rim is now much more accessible for North American travellers as well.
"The transatlantic joint business has been a big win for European consumers flying to America and vice versa, and now Finland will benefit too," says Finnair CEO Pekka Vauramo. "Finland is now only a one-stop journey away to many more North American cities, which is great news for Finnish firms doing business in the US, Canada or Mexico, and for leisure travellers as well. By the same token I look forward to more North American business and leisure travellers discovering the unique charms of Finnair and Finland as a result of this partnership."
"This is an historic day as we welcome Finnair - an airline with a long and proud history - into the transatlantic joint business," says American Airlines' Chairman and CEO Tom Horton. "American Airlines is excited to see our transatlantic partnership grow and develop and we are confident that the addition of Finnair will only enhance and strengthen this relationship."
"The addition of the Helsinki hub to our joint business network will bring faster and easier connections for customers on hundreds of city connections between Europe and North America," says Willie Walsh, CEO of International Airlines Group (IAG). "Finnair is a great airline and we are delighted to now be able to offer their service to British Airways and Iberia customers."