US Airways and Brazil’s TAM Airlines Pursue Codeshare Agreement

Customers of US Airways and Brazil’s TAM Airlines will soon enjoy greater access across the Americas thanks to a new codeshare agreement between the carriers announced today. The agreement is subject to both U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Brazilian government approval.

The two carriers have agreed to a bilateral codeshare relationship, which means that each airline may market flights operated by the other carrier as if the flying were its own. US Airways began daily, nonstop service to Rio de Janeiro from its Charlotte, N.C., hub in December 2009, while TAM serves the U.S. from Miami, Orlando, Fla., and New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

US Airways Senior Vice President Marketing and Planning Andrew Nocella said, “US Airways continues to bring our customers more destinations in more countries through expanded codeshare offerings. Customers can book these flights directly from US Airways and enjoy a convenient booking and travel experience just as they would on a US Airways-operated flight.”

For US Airways customers, this agreement will eventually provide a convenient, single-source booking, ticketing and baggage connection option for many new destinations inside Brazil, including Sao Paulo, Salvador, Recife and Brasilia through TAM’s Rio de Janiero hub.

TAM Airlines customers will have access to US Airways flights from Miami, Orlando and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, to destinations such as Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C.

And, thanks to TAM’s official entrance into Star Alliance on May 13, US Airways Dividend Miles members will also enjoy frequent flyer program benefits, including earning mileage credit and redeeming award travel on flights operated by TAM.

US Airways customers will also gain access to TAM Airlines airport lounges.

US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,000 flights per day and serves more than 190 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 30,000 aviation professionals worldwide and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 19,700 daily flights to 1,077 airports in 175 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, and a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. And for the eleventh consecutive year, the airline received a Diamond Award for maintenance training excellence from the Federal Aviation Administration for its Charlotte hub line maintenance facility. For more company information, visit usairways.com.