Atlantic Excellence

The Atlantic Excellence was a trans-Atlantic airline alliance between Swissair, Delta Air Lines, Sabena and Austrian Airlines that was form in 1997 and disbanded in 1999/2000. The dissolution of the code share agreement comes soon after an announcement by Delta Air Lines that it was starting cooperative arrangements with Air France which led in to Skyteam. SAirGroup had negotiations with American Airlines about extending their cooperative arrangements, with both Swissair and Sabena intending to commence code-share services on North Atlantic routes with American Airlines which led into Qualiflyer.

In 1995 Swissair, Austrian Airlines and Delta Air Lines Scheduled service begins on a Vienna-Geneva-Washington DC routing on March 26 in a trilateral joint-venture operation. Swissair, Austrian Airlines, Sabena and Delta Air Lines are granted anti-trust immunity by the US authorities, enabling them to collaborate more closely without violating the country’s strict legislation on anti-competitive practices.In 1997 Austrian Airlines, Sabena, Delta Air Lines and Swissair launch "Atlantic Excellence", an extensive collaborative partnership with joint networks and operations between Europe and North America. Swissair and Sabena announce a transatlantic cooperation with American Airlines, in response to Delta Air Lines' decision (announced on the same day) to work more closely with Air France. Austrian Airlines announces its intention to leave the Qualiflyer and join the Star Alliance. The CEOs of Swissair, Sabena, Austrian Airlines and Delta Air Lines decide to disband the Atlantic Excellence alliance with effect from August 5, 2000. Swissair, Sabena and American Airlines announce their conclusion of a ten-year cooperation agreement, and apply to the US Department of Transportation for anti-trust immunity (granted in May 2000). All services between Switzerland/Belgium and Boston , Chicago , Miami and Washington switch to codeshare operations from November 21.

See also

• Oneworld
• Skyteam
• Star Alliance
• Qualiflyer
• Wings Alliance