I honestly feel that a merger with AS would be of more benefit to AA. A merger with AS would result in far less, if any layoffs. It would also give AA a HUGE presence on the west coast, which could eventually turn into a successful feeder operation for a nice Pacific route structure from SFO, LAX, and SEA. A merger with AS would just produce more benefits. This would all be dependent of course, on AA being able to resist its strange need (based on history) of buying an airline (Air Cal, Reno) and then dismantling the route structure.
If anyone believes for a minute, that a merger with US Airways is not going to result in massive layoffs, they are dreaming. There would be hub closings. No matter what Parker says, there would be a reduction in the route system. Phoenix would be history. Parker obviously wants DFW for east-west connections and there would be no use to maintain PHX as anything other than a focus city. CLT is the one positive thing that US would bring to AA. I will admit that CLT would fit nicely in AA's route system. I don't see PHL maintaining its current level of service. Yes, I know the O&D is good, but I think the focus would shift to the NYC and BOS areas.
I'm just afraid that my co-workers at AA are buying into Parker's lies about no layoffs. I can't think of a single merger that has not resulted in no layoffs. It seems to me that at least with an AS merger, the reductions would largely be limited to redundancies in management, rather than in the operational area.