Re. Codeshare Approval

British Airways PLC
18 November 2002


BRITISH AIRWAYS AND AMERICAN AIRLINES SEEK CODESHARE APPROVAL

British Airways and American Airlines today filed an application with the US
Department of Transportation seeking US regulatory approval to offer certain
codeshare services permitted under the current provisions of the US-UK Air
Services Agreement.

The arrangement would enable British Airways to place its code on American's
flights beyond British Airways' US gateway cities to points in the US, Mexico,
the Caribbean and Latin America. British Airways would also place its code on
American's flights between Glasgow, Manchester and Chicago. The application
submitted by the two carriers excludes codesharing on each other's transatlantic
services between the US and London.

American would be able to place its code on British Airways' services beyond its
UK gateways to key destinations in the United Kingdom and Ireland, continental
Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. American also would be able to place
its code on British Airways' transatlantic service between New York (JFK) and
Manchester.

If approved by the US DOT, this would be the first time the two carriers have
been authorized to place their codes on each other's flights since the inception
of their alliance in 1996. The two airlines already enjoy a successful
partnership as founding members of the oneworld alliance, the most international
of the global airline alliances. The codeshare relationship would provide
additional benefits to transatlantic travellers by offering more convenient
connections to a wider range of destinations.

In a joint statement, Roger Maynard, British Airways' Director of Investments,
and Henry Joyner, American's Senior Vice President of Planning, said: 'This
codeshare relationship will enhance the experience of transatlantic travellers
and increase competition. We have seen time and again that codesharing results
in more convenient schedules and reduced connection times to a greater number of
exciting destinations for American, British Airways, and oneworld customers.
American, British Airways and oneworld face competition from several global
airline alliances, all of which already enjoy regulatory approval for codeshare
cooperation. Approval of this application will help to level the competitive
playing field.'

                                      ends

18 November, 2002 128/LE/02


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