Travelers from the UAE will now have great access to the American market. This good news comes following regulatory approval for the new codeshare agreement between Etihad Airways and American Airlines. The new agreement is said to come into effect this week, with Etihad launching flights to Chicago on September 2, 2009.

This new agreement also extends the airlines’ global networks further by allowing easy access between Abu Dhabi and key cities in the United States. Some of these cities include San Franciso, Houston, Washington, and Los Angeles.

For American Airlines, domestic routes covered by the new codeshare arrangement will initially include flights between New York and Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as flights between Chicago and Los Angeles, Washington, Houston, and San Francisco.

American Airlines’ transatlantic services will include flights between Paris and Boston, Dublin and Chicago, Frankfurt and Dallas, Manchester and Chicago, as well as Milan and New York. Customers that are transferring between the two carriers will be able to purchase one ticket for their journey and enjoy the convenience of being able to check-in their luggage to their ultimate destination. This should keep consumers from losing their bags as well.

Right now, Etihad Airways flies to two destinations in North America. These two areas are New York and Toronto, Canada. Now the airline will begin flights to Chicago starting September 2, 2009. This route will be served three times a week and will increase to six flights per week starting November 1. By the time January 2010 hits, this flight will become daily.