American Airlines to Debut 2 TV Ads

American Airlines will unveil two new television commercials Thursday during NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics. The spots that will run in Los Angeles, New York and other large cities are part of the airline’s slow return to traditional airline advertising after Sept. 11.

One advertisement describes the airline’s role in “the free flow of people and ideas and products and joy.” The other spot addresses the flying public’s demand for “the freedom to come and go anywhere, any time, with confidence and peace of mind.” Both commercials identify the airline as “proud to bear the name American.”

The commercials are precursors to a longer-range ad campaign to begin later this year.

Shares of American’s parent firm AMR Corp. rose 52 cents to $24.80 on the NYSE.

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Greg Johnson