oneworld Airlines' Bid for Level Playing Field Draws Broad Support From Nearly 500...

oneworld Airlines' Bid for Level Playing Field Draws Broad Support From Nearly
500 Elected and Public Officials and Airports Throughout the United States

28 U.S. Senators, 133 U.S. Representatives, 43 Governors and Lt. Governors,
110 Mayors, 129 Airports, and 32 Other State and Local Officials Call for U.S.
DOT to Approve Airlines' Application for Antitrust Immunity

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nearly 500 elected and
public officials from across the United States have sent letters asking the
Federal government to level the playing field by granting global antitrust
immunity to five oneworld(R) airlines. These officials state that businesses,
consumers and communities they represent all will benefit from the proposed
arrangement among American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia Airlines, Finnair
and Royal Jordanian.

The five airlines today announced that they have filed letters of support from
elected and public officials from 47 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico
with the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), which is expected
to issue its decision by Oct. 31, 2009. In addition to the application to the
U.S. DOT, American, British Airways and Iberia continue to work with the
European Union through its regulatory process and remain hopeful that they
will be in a position to proceed with implementation by the end of this year.

Federal-level support includes 28 U.S. Senators and 133 U.S. Representatives.
At the state and local level, 43 Governors and Lieutenant Governors,
representing more than 83 percent of the U.S. population, and 110 Mayors who
represent an aggregate population of more than 37 million, have written in
support of the airlines' effort to gain approval to work more closely together
and compete more effectively with other alliances that already have received
immunity.

Federal Elected Officials Weigh In With Support
"Approval of American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia's pending
application will give consumers more travel options, increase competition for
international travel and create jobs in Illinois," said Assistant Senate
Majority Leader Dick Durbin, D-Ill. "I stand with airports and businesses
across Illinois in supporting this alliance and the economic activity it
stands to create."

"Putting oneworld on an equal footing with other airline alliances is vital
and will be a positive for Fort Worth. More competition among airline
alliances will bring more travel choices with a combined route network and
provide more seamless service among American, British Airways and Iberia,"
said U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas. "It will also provide travelers with more
opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on flights worldwide."

Airports See Benefits and Show Support
The application is also supported by 129 U.S. airports representing more than
half of all departures from airports within the 50 states, as well as the
Puerto Rico Ports Authority and the Manchester Airport Group in the United
Kingdom.

With the 499 letters from elected and public officials and airports announced
today, the alliance has received a grand total of 3,382 letters for support
from 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Previously filed
were 2,883 letters from 521 corporations and small businesses, 615 travel
industry organizations, and 356 other groups such as non-profits and chambers
of commerce.

This broad-based support demonstrates that antitrust immunity will deliver
more convenient, improved travel options for customers and enhance service on
oneworld's network of 8,951 daily departures to 663 destinations in 134
countries. As a result, oneworld, of which American, British Airways and
Iberia are key members, will compete more effectively with the Star and
SkyTeam global airline alliances that already enjoy antitrust immunity.

For more information about the airlines' application for antitrust immunity
and a complete list of support letters filed with the DOT, visit
www.moretravelchoices.com. Visit AA's YouTube channel at:
www.youtube.com/americanairlines for video information about this and other
initiatives at American Airlines.

About American Airlines
American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection(R) 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 more than 130 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)

AmericanAirlines(R) We know why you fly(R)
Current AMR Corp. releases can be accessed on the Internet.
The address is http://www.aa.com

SOURCE American Airlines

Andy Backover, Corporate Communications of American Airlines, +1-817-967-1577,
corp.comm@aa.com