American Airlines will apply to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) for authorization to begin codeshare cooperation with EL AL Israel Airlines. The application proposes that codesharing operations begin on Feb. 1, 2008.

Under the proposal, American would place its AA designator code on EL AL flights to Tel Aviv from New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), Los Angeles, Miami and Newark, as well as on EL AL fights to Tel Aviv from European gateways in London Heathrow, Paris, Madrid, Zurich and Rome.

In turn, EL AL would place its LY designator code on certain American Airlines domestic flights out of El Al’s North American gateways – JFK, Miami, Los Angeles, Newark and Toronto. El Al would also codeshare on American’s flights between the United States and London Heathrow, Paris, Madrid, Zurich and Rome.

“EL AL is a high quality, world-class airline that will provide our passengers and shippers with additional choices and convenient service to Tel Aviv,” said Henry Joyner, American’s Senior Vice President – Planning. “We also look forward to serving EL AL’s passengers on our American flights in many of our North American markets. We’re especially pleased to be codesharing with EL AL into, and out of, our new $1.3 billion state-of-the-art JFK terminal.”

“We are proud to join forces with American Airlines, a company whose history, size and range of services speak for themselves,” said EL AL CEO Haim Romano. “The authorization of EL AL’s codeshare agreement with American Airlines will open up new horizons, create a wide range of possibilities, and enable EL AL passengers to fly on LY code – with convenience and maximum flexibility – between Israel and North America.”

American and EL AL already have a frequent flyer program relationship. American’s AAdvantage members may earn or redeem AAdvantage miles on EL AL flights.