American Airlines seeks government approval to defer launch of Chicago to Beijing service

FORT WORTH, TX (August 29, 2008) - American Airlines today filed a request with the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) for a waiver that will allow it to begin nonstop service between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Beijing, China on April 4, 2010. American had previously planned to inaugurate the service on April 9, 2009.

In the request, American cited the extraordinary adverse market and operating conditions affecting the entire airline industry. As a result of the unprecedented level in the price of fuel and general economic conditions, other carriers in the US-China market have been granted authorization by DOT to defer start-up, suspend service or operate frequencies on a seasonal basis.