American and Delta End Interline Agreement

American Airlines announced that it and Delta Air Lines were ending their interline agreement effective September 15.

The news was announced via a memo to employees at American on Thursday.  The change means that neither airline will sell flights on behalf of the other and that connecting passengers switching from one airline to the other will have to retrieve their checked baggage and bring it to the other airline’s check-in counter.

The two carriers were unable to come to terms on rates “for moving customers between carriers during irregular operations,” American said in the memo.  Earlier this year, the airlines that participate in industry-wide interline agreements adopted new rates and Delta decided at that time to negotiate a separate agreement with American.

The airline does not anticipate much disruption for passengers without an interline agreement with Delta.  “With nine hubs and gateways and nearly 7,000 daily flights, we have more ability to re-route our customers during operational disruption than any other airline in the world,” it said.

American’s interline agreements with United, the world’s second largest airline, will continue, as will its agreements with other airlines including Alaska Airlines as well as its joint business and oneworld alliance partners, the airline said.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)