American Airlines commited to New York, joins forces with NYC tourism, JetBlue Airways

American Airlines is bolstering its customer service by joining forces with New York City’s tourism organization and JetBlue Airways.

The airline will make the announcement today.

“Our announcements today demonstrate our strong commitment to New York, and we look forward to expanding that commitment in the months and years to come,” said Gerard Arpey, Chairman and CEO of American Airlines. “We have a long history in New York, and we’re going to grow those roots with new routes, new partnerships, even deeper local relationships, and the kind of service that New Yorkers expect and that will attract more visitors and commerce to the city.”

The multimillion dollar two-year agreement with New York means that the airline will encourage travel to New York by serving as an official carrier for the tourism group.

American also plans more than $30 million in airline terminal investments at John F. Kennedy and La Guardia airports.

American Airlines and American Eagle will add 13 new routes to and from those airports by the end of 2010.

American is also partnering with JetBlue to offer their passengers international connections to American’s international flights.

JetBlue says this partnership will launch service at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in November.

The airline, based in Forest Hills, N.Y., said Wednesday it will initially offer at least eight daily departures from Reagan to East Coast cities. The carrier already operates in the two other Washington D.C.-area airports, Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

JetBlue’s access to Reagan National is part of an agreement with American Airlines to be announced Wednesday. Under the deal, JetBlue will also acquire takeoff and landing slots for more daily service at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y.

Customers of both airlines are expected to benefit from improved connections, while each airline will see an increase in customers utilizing their services.

“This new agreement with JetBlue complements our domestic and international network and will bolster our partnerships with other oneworld members. It will provide important opportunities to grow international traffic flowing into and out of the United States for American,” Arpey said. “That ultimately strengthens our operations, network, and customer feed at JFK and at Boston Logan. And, while we bolster American’s own network, in turn we will help solidify oneworld as the premier global alliance with the finest airline brands and networks worldwide.”

The Reagan service requires approval by the Department of Transportation.