British Airways is hoping to reopen talks with US carrier American Airlines about creating a closer working relationship between the two.
BA's new chief executive Willie Walsh said greater co-operation on areas such as ticket pricing and flight scheduling would benefit customers.
It would create a better selection of flights - spread out through the day - than at present.
"We would also be able to offer better connections to US cities," he said.
The carriers already have close ties as both are members of the Oneworld airline alliance.
Previous efforts to create closer links- in early 2002 - were hit by US regulators, who said BA and American would have to give up 254 take-off and landing slots at Heathrow in exchange for immunity from anti-trust action.
"The price of giving up slots was too high," Mr Walsh said.