
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 25, 1990                   TAG: 9004250157
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

AMERICAN AIRLINES UNVEILS AIRBORNE OFFICE

Airline passengers winging to Asia, Europe and Latin America soon will be able to watch a film of their choice on a mini-screen, fax a document and make an international phone call.

According to knowledgeable sources, American Airlines will announce an almost $3.5 billion upgrade of its international flights, including the "office in the air."

In addition, American will widen its seats in business and first class, upgrade its food and add flight attendants, all starting this summer.

Until now, facsimile services haven't been available at all and phones have only been offered on domestic flights.

Dallas-based American is seeking to expand its international routes, which are often the most profitable. It is acquiring Eastern's Latin American routes and soon hopes to win permission to launch flights from San Jose, Calif., to Japan. It also hopes to open an Asian hub in Seoul, South Korea, in 1992.

Besides the amenities, American is spending almost $8 billion on aircraft and more than $600 million to upgrade terminals for its international routes - bringing the total to more than $11 billion.

U.S. airlines are often criticized for not pampering their passengers as well as foreign carriers. The changes are meant to change that perception.

- The New York Times

by CNB