airlines

onsulting an airline directly not only bypasses customer service representatives, but also quickly highlights airline-specific promotions. In the last year, the airline industry has undergone significant changes: a pared-down flight schedule with fewer routes is the norm among carriers, many of which have been struggling to remain in the air following September 11th. Our list of useful airline websites includes their typical flight patterns and hubs.

North and South America

Aeromexico: Flights to many large North and Central American cities; to Sao Paulo; and some European cities, including London and Paris.

Air Canada: Main hubs are at Lester B Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Vancouver International Airport and Montreal Dorval Airport. The airline runs direct flights to most Canadian and many American cities; serves many European cities from London, and some Asian destinations from Vancouver.

American Airlines: AA's main American hub is at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas, Texas. The airline operates direct flights to most major North American cities; to Brussels, London and Paris; Buenos Aires, Mexico city, Sao Paulo and Tokyo. American Eagle offers regional service within the United States.

Continental Airlines: Main hubs are at Houston International Airport in Houston, Texas, and Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. Continental runs directs flights to most North American and some European cities, including Brussels, London, Milan, Paris and Zurich; to many Central and South American cities, including Buenos Aires, Mexico city and Sao Paulo; connecting service to Tokyo.

Delta Airlines: Delta's main American hub is at Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. Major cities are served by Delta; other cities by Delta Connection or ASA. Delta Express flies between several north-eastern cities, including New York, and four Florida cities; Delta Shuttle operates between New York’s La Guardia Airport, Logan Airport in Boston, and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC.

Northwest Airlines: Main hub is at Minneapolis International Airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The airline serves key European destinations through a partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

United Airlines: Main American hub is at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. United Express offers regional services in the United States and has taken over routes served by United Shuttle, which was discontinued in October 2001.

US Airways: Main US hubs are in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Charlotte, North Carolina. Serves nine European cities directly, including London, Paris and Brussels. US Airways Shuttle operates between New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Logan Airport in Boston and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC.

Varig: Main hubs are at Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro International Airport. Serves many South American destinations; New York; several European cities, including London, Milan and Paris; Tokyo via Los Angeles.

Europe

Air France: Main hub is at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Air France specialises in flights to the Carribbean and Indian Ocean. Flies to most major American, African and European destinations; to Mexico city, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo; to Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Alitalia: Alitalia's main hubs are at Leonardo DaVinci International Airport in Rome and Malpensa International Airport in Milan. Serves most European and North American destinations; some in the Middle East.

British Airways: main hubs are at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports in London. Flies to most major European cities; to New York, San Francisco and Washington; to Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Mexico city; to 15 African cities, including Johannesburg; to Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.

Iberia: Main hub is at Madrid Barajas Airport. Direct flights to Johannesburg; New York; Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo; many major European destinations, including Berlin, Brussels, London, Milan, Paris and Zurich.

KLM: Main hub is at Amsterdam Schiopol Airport. Most North American destinations are served through a partnership with Northwest Airlines.

Lufthansa: Main hub is at Frankfurt International Airport. Serves most major cities in Europe directly and through “Team Lufthansa”, an alliance of five regional airlines. Direct flights to Hong Kong and Tokyo; to Johannesburg; to Buenos Aires and Mexico city; to New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

Virgin: Main hub is at Heathrow International Airport in London. Direct flights to New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC; to Johannesburg; to Singapore and Tokyo. Does not serve any cities in continental Europe or South America.

Africa & Middle East

El Al: Main hub is at Tel Aviv International Airport in Israel. Direct flights from Tel Aviv to New York, Hong Kong, Beijing, and most major European cities, including London, Paris, Brussels and Moscow.

Gulf Air: Main hubs in Doha, Qatar; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Muscat, Oman; and Bahrain. Direct service to Paris and Milan; to Hong Kong and Singapore; and to most Middle East and some African destinations. Serves Britain and America via code-share.

South African Airways: Main hub at Johannesburg International Airport. Flights to many destinations in Africa and some in Europe, including London, Paris and Zurich; to Hong Kong; to Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo; to New York.

Asia

Cathay Pacific: Main hub is at Hong Kong International Airport. Direct flights from Hong Kong to Singapore, Tokyo and most major Asian cities; to San Francisco; to London, Paris and Zurich.

Japan Airlines: Main hubs are in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, Japan. Direct flights from Tokyo to New York and San Francisco; to London, Paris, Milan and Moscow; to Hong Kong and Singapore.

Qantas: Main hub at Sydney. Flights to London and Paris; to Johannesburg; to many destinations in Asia and Australia, including Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.

Singapore Airlines: Main hub is at Singapore International Airport. Flights to New York and San Francisco; to London, Paris and Zurich; to major destinations in Asia, including Hong Kong and Tokyo; to Johannesburg.

Discount/low-fare airlines

North and South America

AirTran Airways: Main hub is in Atlanta, Georgia; most flights require a stop in Atlanta. There is a non-stop service between New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Washington’s Dulles Airport.

Jet Blue: Main hub is at New York’s JFK International Airport. Offers non-stop service to several destinations in Florida, to the north-east, and to California, including San Francisco.

Southwest: Operates on a “point-to-point” system rather than relying on hubs. Serves San Francisco via Oakland International Aiport, Washington, DC, via Baltimore/Washington International Airport, and New York via Long Island/Islip MacArthur Airport.

Tango: Air Canada’s “no-frills” operations began November 2001. Service between Toronto hub and major Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal and Halifax.

Europe

EasyJet: Main hubs are in Amerstam, Geneva, Liverpool, and Luton Airport in London. Flights between cities in Britain, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.

RyanAir: Main hubs at Stansted International Airport in London and Dublin Airport in Ireland. Direct flights to cities in Austria, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Sweden.

Air Berlin

Hapag-fly

Asia

Virgin Blue: Direct flights between major Australian cities; direct service between Brisbane and Darwin, Cairns, Townsville and McKay.

Airline Partnerships

These partnerships allow frequent flyers to use member airlines’ lounges and redeem miles for member airlines’ flights. Airlines also frequently offer “code-share” arrangements with partners. Benefits vary by alliance: check the website for more information.

OneWorld: Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, FinnAir, Iberia, LanChile and Qantas.

Qualiflyer Group: AirLib, Air Littoral, LOT Polish Airlines, Portugalia Airlines, Sabena, Swissair, TAP Air Portugal and Volare.

SkyTeam: AeroMexico, Air France, Alitalia, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines and Korean Air.

Star Alliance: Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, British Midland, Lauda, Lufthansa, Mexicana, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Tyrolean Airways, United Airlines and Varig.

World Perks: Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Northwest Airlines; several smaller members.