CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines,
which has operated from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
for more than 30 years, is strengthening its ties with Chicago by becoming the Official Airline of
the Chicago Cubs and historic Wrigley Field. American has signed a
long-term Legacy Partnership with the Cubs, one of the most beloved
franchises in Major League Baseball.
"With thousands of employees who are proud to call Chicago their home, and hundreds of daily
flights, we consider ourselves Chicago's hometown airline," said Fernand Fernandez, American's vice president –
Global Marketing. "Taking the field with the Cubs – an iconic,
all-American franchise – only deepens our ties and commitment to
the Windy City."
Beginning with the 2017 season, American and the Cubs will add a
new premium club space located behind home plate with access for
premium box seat ticket holders.
American's 8,500 Chicago-based
employees will take great pride in their company's new branding
presence at Wrigley Field, including a fixed sign on the brick wall
by the Cubs' batting circle at Wrigley Field and video board
features in the historic ballpark. American will host employees,
fans and the team at festivities throughout the season, which will
include Cubs player and mascot appearances, giveaways and the Cubs
Road Trip sweepstakes.
"We are very pleased to have American Airlines on board as the
Official Airline of the Chicago Cubs," said Cubs Chairman
Tom Ricketts. "This partnership will
provide important resources to help us build a winning team on the
field and save Wrigley Field for future generations. We look
forward to working with American to strengthen our brand connection
in Chicago."
The agreement includes marketing opportunities at the Cubs'
Spring Training facility, Sloan Park
in Mesa, Arizona. American also
becomes a Hall of Fame sponsor of Cubs Charities' primary
fundraising event, the Bricks and Ivy
Ball, and will provide domestic round-trip air travel
packages for the organization's fundraising efforts.
In an agreement with a separate enterprise controlled by the
Ricketts family, American will present the "American Airlines
Executive Conference Center" as part of the office building to be
developed in the new plaza location adjacent to Wrigley Field.
For more than 30 years, American Airlines has been the preferred
airline at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), offering an
average of 500 daily departures to 115 destinations around the
world. American recently co-located with its merger partner US
Airways, offering customers easy access to all of the combined
carrier's flights at Terminal 3.
American is in the midst of more than $2
billion in planned improvements to give customers a superior
travel experience around the world. The airline is "going for
great" with fully lie-flat seats; international Wi-Fi; more
in-flight entertainment options; a new, modern design for Admirals
Club lounges worldwide; and an upgraded assortment of complimentary
healthy food, cocktails and more.
At ORD, American offers its most loyal and First Class customers
a private and dedicated VIP experience with
Flagship® Check-In, a customized curb-to-curb service with
Five-Star, as well as Admirals Club® and Flagship
Lounge locations in Terminal 3.
About American Airlines:
American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for
American Airlines and US Airways. Together with wholly owned and
third-party regional carriers operating as American Eagle and US
Airways Express, the airlines operate an average of nearly 6,700
flights per day to 339 destinations in 54 countries from its hubs
in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort
Worth, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. The American Airlines
AAdvantage and US Airways Dividend Miles programs allow members to
earn miles for travel, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays
and everyday purchases. Members of both programs can redeem miles
for tickets as well as upgrades to First Class and Business Class.
In addition, AAdvantage members can redeem miles for vacation
packages, car rentals, hotel stays and retail products. American is
a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members
and members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily
flights to 150 countries. Connect with American on Twitter
@AmericanAir and Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines and follow US
Airways on Twitter @USAirways.
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SOURCE American Airlines