Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith) and its US partner, American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth), have announced plans to enhance their four year-old strategic partnership primarily through the introduction of new flights between the United States and Australia. The agreement is still subject to regulatory approvals.

"Subject to approval from regulators, this expansion represents a natural evolution of the existing alliance between Qantas and American, providing the airlines with a platform for further growth, closer commercial ties, and an even more seamless customer experience on routes between North America and Australia/New Zealand," the airlines said in a joint statement.

Under the terms of their joint venture, which will now shift to a Route revenue share agreement, American will launch a direct Los Angeles International-Sydney Kingsford Smith route using B777-300ER equipment later this year while Qantas, following a four year absence, will resume its Sydney-San Francisco route using B747-400 equipment effective December 20 of this year.

Together, these new flights will replace four of the Australian carrier's weekly Sydney-Los Angeles services and one Melbourne Airport-Los Angeles service per week.

Despite the changes, Qantas will retain its daily A380-800-operated services to Los Angeles from Sydney and Melbourne, as well as its B747-400-operated Brisbane International-Los Angeles flights.

Both airlines will codeshare on each other’s services.