PilotAction US Airways & American Airlines Trial & Other News Update

[Beancounter]

 
Yes, they will settle.  If not by the Friday before Thanksgiving, certainly early in Thanksgiving week so that all the DOJ weenies will be able to catch their US Airways flight to their hometowns to be with extended families.  (And that may be the last round trip they will be able to go non-stop out of DCA, once they have their way!)

 
I agree, but remember this?
 
http://news.yahoo.com/congress-air-losing-non-stop-flights-152208495.html
 
There are a lot of politicians (Democrat and Republican) that are not happy with the DOJs actions.  Shoot, there are a lot of Democrats and Republicans, both politicians and voters, that aren't happy with this entire administration.
 
Bean

 

[nevergiveup]

When they allowed Boeing to merge with MD, how many US Airline manufacturing competitors were left?

 

[AirwAr]

When they allowed Boeing to merge with MD, how many US Airline manufacturing competitors were left?

You mean, "how many Airline manufacturing competitors were left to compete in the US?"...right?
 
In case you didn't know, airlines from other countries aren't able to operate within the US to provide additional competition.  Airline manufactures from other countries, however, are able to sell aircraft in the US. 

 

[USA320Pilot]

[SIZE=12pt][/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 11, 2013[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]The Sky-High Price You’ll Pay for Airline Mergers[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]See Story:[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] http://business.time.com/2013/11/09/the-sky-high-price-of-airline-mergers/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Virgin enters fray to oppose US Airways-American deal[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://finance.yahoo.com/news/virgin-enters-fray-oppose-us-212739424.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Virgin America says it opposes US Airways-American Airlines merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story:[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/virgin-america-says-it-opposes-us-airways-american-airlines-merger.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]JetBlue's $55 fares a jab at AA-US Airways merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story:[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2013/11/11/jetblues-55-fares-a-jab-at-aa-us-airways-merger/3500309/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]AMR says October unit revenues up 6.6 percent[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story:[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/amr-says-october-unit-revenues-up-6-6-percent.html/[/SIZE]

 

[nevergiveup]

You mean, "how many Airline manufacturing competitors were left to compete in the US?"...right?
 
In case you didn't know, airlines from other countries aren't able to operate within the US to provide additional competition.  Airline manufactures from other countries, however, are able to sell aircraft in the US. 

There is a name for that. Need a hint?

 

[USA320Pilot]

 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 12, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]In weighing airline deal, did DOJ get smarter or just give up?[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story:[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20131111-in-weighing-airline-deal-did-doj-get-smarter-or-just-give-up.ece[/SIZE]
           
 
[SIZE=10pt]Who Says DOJ Will Settle in AMR/US Airways Merger? Not Charlie Leocha[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story:[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] http://www.thestreet.com/story/12104523/1/who-says-doj-will-settle-in-amrus-airways-merger-not-charlie-leocha.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Virgin America to Merging Airlines: Let Us Into Your Hubs[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story:[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-11-12/virgin-america-to-merging-airlines-let-us-into-your-hubs?campaign_id=yhoo[/SIZE]

 

[700UW]

Its settled.
 
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/amr-corporation-us-airways-announce-164400969.html

 

[USA320Pilot]

 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 13, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Judge signs order approving settlement of American Airlines-US Airways lawsuit[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]There’ll be a required 60-day comment period before it becomes truly, truly final, but that 60-day period wouldn’t be an impediment to the merger going forward before then.[/SIZE]
 
See Story: [SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/judge-signs-order-approving-settlement-of-american-airlines-us-airways-lawsuit.html/[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Big Airline Merger Is Cleared to Fly - [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]AMR, US Airways Agree to Limited Concessions in Settlement With U.S.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]CHICAGO (WSJ.com) - AMR [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Corp. and US Airways Group Inc. reached an antitrust settlement with the U.S. government to allow their $17 billion merger to proceed with only limited concessions, paving the way for a new global airline colossus.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]US Airways and AMR, parent of American Airlines, agreed to give up space at several major airports across the U.S., most notably reducing their combined daily departures at Reagan National Airport near Washington by about 15% and at La Guardia Airport in New York by about 7%.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]hey also pledged to retain the big hubs that underlie their combined network and continue service to certain smaller cities.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Many antitrust and airline industry experts deemed the settlement a victory for the carriers, because it left the vast majority of their merger plan intact. They added that the airlines likely would have given up some of the airport slots or gates now slated for divestiture anyway to consolidate operations after their merger.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The settlement would affect just 112 of the new carrier's planned 6,500 daily flights, the airlines said[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]The pair now aim to close their transaction by December, creating American Airlines Group Inc., the world's largest airline by traffic. The settlement still must be approved by a federal judge.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]US Airways Chief Executive Doug Parker[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], who will lead the combined carrier, said in an interview Tuesday that the concessions were "not material enough to offset what we said the day we announced," which was that the merger would create more than $1 billion in total annual savings and revenue gains.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The Justice Department described the divestitures as the biggest ever in an airline deal. Bill Baer, the department's antitrust chief, said that the settlement was better for competition than if the government had won a court injunction against the merger, because the concessions will allow low-cost carriers to expand at major airports. "It will disrupt today's cozy relationships among the incumbent legacy carriers and provide consumers with more choices and more competitive airfares," he said.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Still, the concessions are far more limited than what the Justice Department called for when it sued to block the merger in August, arguing that the deal would harm consumers by reducing air service and increasing fares. I think it'd be an overstatement to say the [Justice Department] settled for a mere slap on the wrist," said antitrust attorney Jeffrey Shinder, a partner at Constantine Cannon LLP. "But the settlement certainly…doesn't address the fundamental issues behind the [government's] complaint." [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Those issues, he said, include the potential for the three biggest remaining carriers United Continental Holdings Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc.  and the new American — to cooperate on pricing, and the loss of "a maverick" US Airways that had helped keep competition strong.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The settlement averted a trial set for later this month that posed risks for both sides. An outright defeat for the Obama administration could have tarred its record of successes in antitrust cases and left it without any remedies against airline consolidation. A court ruling against the airlines would have left US Airways flying solo as a smaller carrier and required American Airlines to find another way to exit bankruptcy proceedings.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The airlines had waged an intense lobbying campaign, touting the support for the merger of eight big-city mayors, 183 members of Congress and 100,000 of their mostly unionized employees. AMR Chief Executive Tom Horton said Tuesday that the carriers' advocacy "was helpful" to getting a deal.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The Justice Department's Mr. Baer said pressure from the deal's supporters didn't affect the Justice Department's stance.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]For fliers, the settlement will mean more competition at some of the nation's biggest airports and on some of the most-traveled routes, particularly to and from Washington and New York. But because of the divestments at Reagan, some smaller and midsize cities will likely lose nonstop service to Washington, Messrs. Parker and Horton said.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The airlines agreed that the combined carrier would give up enough slots for 52 daily round-trip flights at Reagan and 17 round trips at La Guardia. That opens up highly sought-after space for rivals. But the new airline will have the flexibility to keep running its most-profitable routes at those airports—including US Airways' popular shuttle from La Guardia to Reagan National and Boston Logan International Airport.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The combined carriers will divest two gates at Boston Logan, Chicago O'Hare International, Los Angeles International and Miami International airports—though these divestments will have a much smaller impact on its operations. AMR said that it already planned to divest the two gates in Miami to consolidate operations, and that it will be able to operate the same number of flights planned in Chicago without the two gates there. The new American will also divest two gates at Dallas Love Field, which it already leases to Delta.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Neither AMR nor US Airways currently serves Love Field, although the airport is expected to become more competitive next year when the government lifts restrictions on where airlines can fly to from it.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]The carriers also agreed to retain virtually all of their hubs for at least three years and, for at least five years, to maintain at least one flight daily to cities in six states that joined the Justice Department's lawsuit: Virginia, Michigan, Florida, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The Justice Department said the low-cost carriers would be able to use the new slots and gates to offer increased competition not only on direct flights, but also on connecting flights nationwide.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Mr. Baer cited as proof Southwest Airlines Co.'s  entry into Newark Liberty International Airport after the merger of United and Continental in 2010. He said Southwest acquired 36 divested slots at Newark Liberty and added direct service to six cities and connections to 60 more. Fares subsequently dropped more than 10% on the nonstop routes alone, while passenger traffic increased 36%, he said.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]George Hoffer, a professor of airline economics at the University of Richmond, said the airlines likely would have shed some of the divested slots or gates in a merger anyway to eliminate redundant routes and consolidate operations at a single terminal.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"It looks like the combined carrier is giving up a lot, but in reality, they're not," he said.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Eric Holder's Antitrust Bust - [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Justice retreats on an American Airlines-US Air merger to avoid losing in court.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Modern antitrust enforcement is increasingly an exercise in arbitrary politics, and there's no clearer example than the Justice Department's humiliating retreat Tuesday in its effort to block a merger of American Airlines and US Airways. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]When Justice sued in August, Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer said: "If this merger were to go forward, consumers will lose the benefit of head-to-head competition between US Airways and American on thousands of airline routes across the country." Mr. Baer warned that customers would likely see the end of low US Airways "Advantage" fares on connecting flights that reach the same destinations as American non-stops. The trust-busters also warned of spiking ancillary fees for checked baggage and the like.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]With a trial set to begin in two weeks, Attorney General Eric Holder's troops instead agreed to a deal that does nothing about ancillary fees or Advantage fares—or any other fares—and doesn't change the rules for "thousands of routes." The two airlines say their merger will generate every additional dime of profit they were forecasting even before the government decided to sue, which explains the 26% gain in American's share price Tuesday.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Confirming that all politics is local, and often cynical, the one issue significantly addressed in both the August complaint and in the settlement is Justice's desire to curtail the companies' operations at Reagan National Airport, a few miles away from Main Justice in Washington. The Antitrust Division's dedicated public servants are requiring that the airlines sell 52 slot pairs (take-off and landing windows), which means about 44 fewer daily departures from Reagan. The bureaucrats will set the rules for the sale of these slots and intend to get them into the hands of lower-cost competitors who are expected to offer Washington residents more affordable options to Florida. It's good to be the kings of airline regulation.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]US Airways and American will also have to sell 17 slot pairs at La Guardia in New York plus two gates each in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Miami. Overall the divestitures are expected to cut 112 flights a day from the combined airline's current total of 6,700, and the merged company will likely remain the largest carrier at Reagan.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]It's easy to see why the airlines took this deal. But American Airlines parent AMR and US Airways Group could have done a public service by forcing Justice to prove a case it never should have brought. Antitrust enforcement is supposed to prevent dominant firms from abusing customers. But there are no dominant firms in air travel, a commodity business that has struggled to return its cost of capital ever since Kitty Hawk.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]US Airways Group is so fearsome a would-be monopolist that Standard & Poor's recently upgraded the company's credit rating to single-B. This puts the airline in the august company of Fiji and Rwanda. As the stand-alone strength of American parent AMR, the company is currently operating in bankruptcy. Standard Oil it is not. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The deal means the merged company will be better placed to compete against the combinations of Delta-Northwest and United-Continental that Justice had previously approved. The U.S. will also have three large global competitors. But overall this deal looks like an example of D.C travelers taking care of themselves on the way out of an unwinable case. [/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Details of American Airlines-US Airways settlement[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA): Divest 52 slot pairs, plus gates, including 16 to JetBlue Airways Corp in exchange for slots at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://finance.yahoo.com/news/factbox-details-american-airlines-us-185801298.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Horton: We expect to complete American Airlines-US Airways merger in first half of December[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/horton-we-expect-to-complete-american-airlines-us-airways-merger-in-first-half-of-december.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Execs: Settlement doesn’t hurt American-US Airways merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20131112-execs-settlement-doesnt-hurt-american-us-airways-merger.ece[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Politicians and others applaud settlement between DOJ and American Airlines-US Airways[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/politicians-and-others-applaud-settlement-between-doj-and-american-airlines-us-airways.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]North Texas wins big in DOJ settlement[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20131112-north-texas-wins-big-in-doj-settlement.ece[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Experts don’t see dramatic impact on fares from air merger[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/11/12/5330662/experts-dont-see-dramatic-impact.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Antitrust regulators back off and everybody wins[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.dallasnews.com/business/columnists/mitchell-schnurman/20131112-antitrust-regulators-back-off-and-everybody-wins.ece[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Wolfe Research: Hunter Keay: November 11, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Following today’s announcement of a settlement between AMR/LCC and DoJ we are suspending our rating and target price on the equity. We upgraded AAMRQ to Outperform on 10/3 when the stock was at $4.56. At the time we established an $11 target price, which was based on our probability-weighted view of the merger occurring. We derived our $11 target price by assuming 75% of $13 (estimated value in a merger) and 25% of $2.50 (estimated standalone value).AAG (LCC+AMR) is divesting 104 daily takeoff and landing slots at DCA, 16 of which were already leased to JBLU, and AAG will still be bigger at DCA than it was prior to the merger with a net gain of six daily slots (250 from 244). We believe the DCA divestitures reduce merger synergies by less than 5%.[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Tom Horton & Doug Parker Letter: November 12, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Dear American and US Airways Team Members,
 
Great news! We have settled the litigation brought by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the State Attorneys General and we now expect to complete the merger of American Airlines and US Airways in December. We also have entered into a separate agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding small community service from Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA). 
 
Reaching these agreements was made possible by your support. From running two great airlines to reaching out to your local, state and federal representatives, your collective voice was heard. You said, “Let us Compete. Together,” and now we can begin to do just that. Thank you very much for all you did to ensure your voices were heard.[/SIZE]
 
Under the terms of the settlement:
[SIZE=10pt]•   The new American will divest 52 slot pairs at DCA and 17 slot pairs at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), as well as certain gates and related facilities to support service at those airports. 
•   Included are eight DCA slot pairs that American currently leases to JetBlue and five LGA slot pairs that American leases to Southwest.
•   As a result, we expect the settlement to result in the new American operating 44 fewer DCA daily departures than the 290 that American and US Airways currently operate.[/SIZE]
•   At LGA, we will operate 12 fewer daily departures than the approximately 175 we collectively operate today.
•   We will also divest two gates and related support facilities at each of Boston Logan International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Dallas Love Field, Los Angeles International Airport, and Miami International Airport. 
 
Despite the divestitures, the new American is still expected to generate more than $1 billion in annual net synergies in 2015, as we estimated when the merger was announced in February. 
 
To ensure much of the service to small- and medium-sized markets from DCA is maintained, the new American has agreed with the DOT to use all of its DCA commuter slot pairs for service to these communities (DCA designates slots for either “commuter” or “mainline” use.  Seventy-four of our slots are allocated to commuter slots, which mean they must be operated by aircraft with 76 seats or less). In addition, in the agreement with the state Attorneys General, the new American has agreed to maintain its hubs at CLT, DFW, JFK, LAX, MIA, ORD, PHL and PHX consistent with historical operations for a period of three years.  With limited exceptions, for a period of five years the new American will continue to provide daily scheduled service from one or more of its hubs to each airport in each of the states involved in the original lawsuit that has scheduled daily service from either American or US Airways.  
 
Fortunately, the divestitures required by the settlement are not expected to impact total employment at the new American.  Certain airports may be affected as a result of the divestitures, but we will offer those employees opportunities elsewhere in the system.   In addition, the reductions in DCA and LGA are expected to have little or no impact on mainline flying and will impact regional jet flying mostly done by contract partners and those regional jets will be deployed elsewhere in the new American’s network.  
 
These divestures will require the new American to discontinue nonstop service from DCA to some destinations currently served. Those cities are not yet known, but as soon as those decisions are made, we will share it with you.  
 
We still need to obtain approval of the settlements by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and other closing approvals, but today’s agreements allow us to complete the merger next month and we wanted to pass along this outstanding news and our gratitude to all of you immediately. Thank you again – we look forward to celebrating the creation of the new American with all of you within a few weeks.
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]APA Update (MOU Modifications) : November 13, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]With today's announcement of the DOJ settlement, and with Judge Lane’s prior approval of the merger POR, we finally have clarity on the path forward. Upon merger consummation our 2012 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will be replaced by the Merger Transition Agreement (MTA), which is an amendment to the 2012 CBA with the improvements and amendments provided for in the four-party Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Contract Modifications[/SIZE] 

[SIZE=10pt]The MOU modifications will take effect as follows:[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Company-paid defined contribution rate increases to 16% starting January 2014[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Additional pay raise of 6% effective January 2014 (8% total)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Additional pay raise of 1% effective January 2015 (3% total)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Mid-contract pay adjustment on January 2016 (the comparators will now be limited to DAL and UAL)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Additional pay raise of 1.5% effective January 2017 (3.5% total)[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Per diem improvements:[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]2014 $2.10 domestic, $2.40 international
2015 $2.25 domestic, $2.75 international
2016 $2.30 domestic, $2.80 international
2017 $2.30 domestic, $2.80 international
2018 $2.30 domestic, $2.80 international[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]dditional improvements that will take effect Jan. 1, 2014:[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Deadheading on Transoceanic, Deep South, Alaska and Hawaii flights in business class or higher[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Training pay increased to four hours per day[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Distance learning pay increased to 1 for 2 (one hour of pay for every two hours of distance learning)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Scheduled sit times over two hours pay 1:2 (i.e., three-hour scheduled sit time pays 30 minutes of additional pay)[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Pay charts and contractual language for these improvements are contained in LOA 13-08. We will be publishing the new MTA in the near future, which will replace our 2012 CBA and incorporate all of these contractual improvements.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION: MERGER SETTLEMENT WILL HELP AMERICAN "SURVIVE AND THRIVE"  [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 12, 2013) — The president of the Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, issued the following statement in response to news that the Justice Department has settled its lawsuit with American Airlines and US Airways regarding the airlines' pending merger.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"The Allied Pilots Association leadership is pleased the DOJ and the two airlines have found a mutually acceptable way to address concerns about the merger. As we have said since the lawsuit was filed, this merger is pro-competition," said APA President Capt. Keith Wilson. "Merging with US Airways will remedy American Airlines' longstanding network shortfalls and put American on equal footing with Delta and United. With the merger, American will offer travelers a viable alternative to Delta and United.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"Today marks the culmination of an aggressive and unconventional strategy APA began pursuing early last year. Our primary goals were to help ensure American would survive and thrive, thereby ensuring long-term career stability for our pilots. This merger will accomplish both goals.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"With the DOJ settlement, American now has the opportunity to return to a position of industry preeminence. We look forward to working with our colleagues at the US Airline Pilots Association as we shift our focus to negotiating a joint collective bargaining agreement."[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]USAPA President's Message: November 11, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Fellow Pilots,[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Today, American Airlines and US Airways announced a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department, resolving the DOJ’s lawsuit to block the merger of the two airlines.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]As with any negotiations, there was give and take on both sides. While the merged airline will give up some takeoff and landing slots, the overall synergies of the combined airline will be good for the employees and flying public. Moreover, while the Company has said the divestiture of slots won’t affect employment at the new American, your union will monitor the situation closely to make sure that there is no adverse impact on pilot jobs.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]If approved by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly and the bankruptcy court, today’s settlement would resolve the last major hurdle to the merger. Under the merger, the MOU ratified by the pilots in February 2013 will take effect on the Effective Date of the Plan of Reorganization, which could be as soon as the end of the year.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]While we don’t have all the details, today’s news is important. We will update you as soon as we have more information.[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]A Message from Laura Glading, APFA President: November 11, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]By now, you’ve all heard the terrific news that the DOJ announced a settlement on our merger with US Airways earlier today. I was able to share this news with members of my base at the JFK Roadshow this morning which made the news that much more meaningful.

The next legal step in this process is a final approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy court which is scheduled for November 25, 2013, ironically, the day we were scheduled to go to trial with the DOJ. Following that, we can anticipate exiting bankruptcy the first half of December.

What does that mean? For starters, it means we will begin receiving our equity stake in the new American in the form of unrestricted stock beginning on the day we exit. It also means that the LBFO will begin to be replaced by the Conditional Labor Agreement (CLA) as modified by the MOU and its associated improvements.

Congratulations to all flight attendants at both airlines. It would not have happened without your support. We have a lot to look forward to and still have work to do. I remain hopeful that we can reach agreement with AFA-CWA on how best to represent the flight attendants at the new American so we can get the contract we all deserve for building the world's leading airline.

Tomorrow, I will be at the Miami roadshow along with the the APFA negotiating team and our advisors beginning at 11:00 a.m. Come join us if you can in the auditorium, Concourse D, Miami Airport, 4th Floor.

Lastly, please take a moment to remember our colleagues from AA Flight 587, several of whom were my friends. I am pleased that there is now some new hope associated with today's date.

Here’s to the memory of those we lost 12 years ago today. We will never forget...
Deborah Fontakis
Barbara Giannasca
Wilmer Gonzalez
Joseph Lopes
Michele Mills
Carol Palm
William Valdespino
Edward States, Captain
Sten Molin, First Officer

In Unity,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Laura[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 13, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]AMR-US Airways Merger: Critics Have a Long Shot in Court[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]CHICAGO (WSJ.com) - Critics of the merger between AMR Corp. and US Airways Group Inc. have one more chance at exacting additional concessions—but it's a long shot.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The 1974 Tunney Act requires that any Department of Justice antitrust settlement go before a federal judge to determine if the deal is in the public interest. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Antitrust lawyers say it is highly unlikely that U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly will reject the terms of Tuesday’s settlement, but critics of deal say she could scrutinize the agreement closely.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"In this particular case, it might be of real concern to the court that DOJ has compromised a very strong case with concessions that a lot of people are thinking may be inadequate," says Cleveland State University law professor Christopher Sagers. Prof. Sagers testified against the deal in a February congressional hearing.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The Tunney Act was adopted in the wake of concerns that President Richard Nixon improperly ordered the Justice Department to back away from a government antitrust case against International Telephone & Telegraph Corp.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Judges sometimes convene hearings to question the parties about their settlements. But antitrust lawyers have difficulty pointing to any instance in which a judge has demanded substantial changes to an agreement.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Michael Keeley, an antitrust lawyer at Axinn Veltrop & Harkrider LLP, says it would be a shock if the airlines ran into trouble. "No judge is going to undo a settlement of one of these major deals on the eve of trial that the Justice Department has spent tens of thousands of hours investigating and litigating," he says.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]In a rare case, a judge in 1995 refused to approve the Justice Department's settlement with Microsfot Corp. to resolve concerns that the software company was abusing its market dominance in personal-computer operating systems. But a Washington appeals court overturned the judge, saying the Tunney Act gave trial courts only limited room to upset Justice Department settlements. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The department has said repeatedly over the years that judges owe deference to the government's enforcement decisions because it has broad discretion to settle cases.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]A hearing was held on the 2011 settlement that cleared Comcast Corp. to take control of NBCUniversal. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon approved the settlement, though he required the parties to provide status reports for at least two years so he could monitor how the settlement was functioning.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]One factor a judge is supposed to consider is whether a settlement adequately remedies the harm to competition that the Justice Department had identified.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Critics of Tuesday's settlement note that the government's August lawsuit alleged a wide range of dangers from the proposed merger. "The settlement doesn't address many of those allegations," says Washington antitrust lawyer Seth Bloom. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The Justice Department in court papers acknowledges some limitations of the settlement. For example, the deal wouldn't continue the premerger plans by AMR's American Airlines to expand service. The government also acknowledges that US Airways' Advantage Fares—inexpensive, one-stop tickets meant to undercut the prices of American, Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc. — could be eliminated under the deal.[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]But the department says the deal would offer other important consumer benefits by opening up access at key airports to low cost carriers. Justice Department antitrust chief Bill Baer said Tuesday that the settlement could change the landscape in the airline industry in ways that wouldn't have been possible even if the government won its case in court.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"The low-cost carriers that acquire the slots and the gates will be able to offer increased competition not just on direct nonstop flights to and from these key airports, but also on connecting flights all across the country," Mr. Baer said.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Some people that initially had reservations about the merger express support for the agreement. That [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]includes Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition, an advocacy group that had questioned the merger's benefits for travelers. "The agreed-upon remedies are pretty extensive," he says.[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Airline Merger Sets Up Land Grab at Major Airports - Discounters Eye Footholds at Reagan and LaGuardia; Cutbacks Likely at Smaller Cities[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]CHICAGO (WSJ.com) - The government's antitrust settlement with AMR Corp. and [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]US Air[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]ways Group Inc. sets up what may be the last big land grab at major airports for some time, as the planned merger cements a new structure for the industry after a decade of bankruptcies and consolidation.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Discounters  Southwest Airlines Co., JetBlue Airways Corp. and Spirit Airlines Inc. have said they are considering bids for bundles of slots that the new American Airlines will divest at Reagan National Airport and LaGuardia Airport—an opportunity for footholds at crowded airports that likely won't come around again soon. Those new entrants are expected to increase competition on well-traveled routes from Washington and New York to destinations like Chicago, Dallas and Florida.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The new competition will be counterbalanced by the new American's likely service cuts to smaller airports, necessitated by the divestments. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Cities heavily served by American and US Airways today from Washington and New York, such as Raleigh, N.C., Nashville, Tenn., and Louisville, Ky., could see cutbacks. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Meanwhile, cities with just a handful of flights a month to Washington and New York might lose that nonstop service altogether, such as Indianapolis, Burlington, Vt., and Kansas City, Mo., according to a Wall Street Journal analysis.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]American and US Airways said they have made no decisions on cuts because they can't compare data on routes until their merger closes.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]After seven major airline bankruptcies, six major mergers and numerous airline failures since 2000, the airline industry is financially healthier, enabling carriers to invest in their product and provide more stable service.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]But the new reality also means a few airlines now hold more power over how Americans traverse the country, giving them more leverage to cut flights, raise prices and bully smaller rivals out of markets. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]After the merger's expected close next month, just four carriers—the new American, United Continental Holdings Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc., and Southwest—will control more than 82% of domestic airline seats.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]That concentration "is what we need to come to embrace as the new normal," said airline researcher Bill Swelbar of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Two studies this year by Mr. Swelbar found that from 2007 through 2012, U.S. airlines cut 26% of their scheduled flights to the nation's 35 midsize airports, while increasing the average inflation-adjusted fares there by 12%.[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]As a result of their settlement with the Justice Department[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], American and US Airways must eliminate about 15% of their combined flights from Reagan and 7% from LaGuardia.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The airlines said most, if not all, of those cuts will be to routes served with smaller regional jets because they're less lucrative than major routes. So they'll actually need to cull almost 40% of those regional-jet flights from Reagan, and 17% of those from LaGuardia—most of which serve smaller East Coast and Midwestern cities—according to a Journal analysis of the carriers' schedules.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"We likely are in the crosshairs," said Harvey Schmitt, the chamber of commerce president in Raleigh, N.C., which has about 20 daily American and US Airways flights to LaGuardia and Reagan.Though Mr. Schmitt said he understands the carriers must find efficiencies in their merger, "we're expecting the loss of some flights."[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Cities with fewer flights to Washington and New York, such as Chattanooga, Tenn., Augusta, Ga., and Portland, Maine, risk losing their nonstop service completely.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]David Cush, chief executive of Virgin America Inc., said his six-year-old airline has had to claw its way into important airports because consolidation has made market access difficult. Now, a new competitive issue is emerging.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"The merged carriers have so much market power, so many aircraft at their disposal and so much financial muscle that they're able to come in and put undue competitive pressure on the smaller carriers," he said.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Near-term, the results can sometimes benefit fliers. For instance, after Virgin America introduced three daily flights in April from San Francisco and Los Angeles to United's hub in Newark, N.J., United responded by boosting its daily flights on the routes to 14 from nine.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]But long-term, Mr. Cush said, further concentration of the industry means that Virgin America may be the last new entrant to the U.S. market for the foreseeable future. "We're fortunate in that we've made it into the gate before the gate slammed shut," he said.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Attention now turns to the government-controlled divestment of 44 roundtrip daily flights at Reagan, which must be divided between at least two carriers, and 12 round trips at LaGuardia, which can be sold to just one. The Justice Department has said it will soon choose a list of low-cost carriers as qualified bidders for the slots. JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Virgin America and several smaller carriers are expected to bid aggressively for the sought-after space.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]With little room for further consolidation or major network changes, the auction is seen as a final opportunity for significant access to the airports. Mr. Cush, who said he was still studying a potential bid, acknowledged that "if we're planning on going into Reagan or LaGuardia, now is the time to make a move."[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Mr. Swelbar of MIT said JetBlue, Southwest and Spirit have an upper hand because of strong balance sheets.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]But these carriers are unlikely to fill any of the new American's cuts to small cities. Larger carriers like American fly smaller regional jets to smaller cities. But the discounters don't fly regional jets, meaning they must serve markets large enough to fill their bigger planes, Mr. Swelbar said.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Instead, they will likely fly to vacation destinations in Florida and larger cities like Chicago, Boston, Atlanta and Dallas, he said. For fliers, that means "if I fly from New York to Chicago, I benefit," Mr. Swelbar said. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"But I'm certainly not going to benefit from New York to Knoxville."[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]The Deal: American, US Airways Come Out Ahead on Settlement[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.thestreet.com/story/12108500/1/the-deal-american-us-airways-come-out-ahead-on-settlement.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]In Settlement Talks, Here Was the Easy Stuff for the New American Airlines[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-11-13/in-settlement-talks-here-was-the-easy-stuff-for-the-new-american-airlines?campaign_id=yhoo[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]How Much Did US Airways and American Airlines Really Have to Give Up?[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]“Why mince words?” Jamie Baker, a New York-based analyst for JPMorgan, said in a note to clients seen by Bloomberg. “‘A win for the airlines’ is how we view the negotiated settlement.”[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Mike Boyd, a former airline executive who has run his Evergreen, Colorado-based consulting firm Boyd Group International Inc. since 1984, echoed similar sentiments to the news service. “You just wasted a lot of our tax money on a bad lawsuit. The airlines didn’t give up much of anything,” he said.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/how-much-did-us-airways-and-american-airlines-really-have-to-give-up.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]AMR-US Airways Settlement Transformative: Butler[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.bloomberg.com/video/amr-us-airways-settlement-transformative-butler-7_zrfH8BSMagbs_jXget7g.html?cmpid=yhoo[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Judge orders ‘friends’ to stand down in US Airways-American Airlines case[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/judge-orders-friends-to-stand-down-in-us-airways-american-airlines-case.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Delta Air Lines wants gates at Dallas Love Field[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/delta-air-lines-wants-gates-at-dallas-love-field.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Bethune on Mega Merger: DOJ is “all bark” [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000217838&__source=yahoo%7cheadline%7cquote%7cvideo%7c&par=yahoo[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 14, 2013
 
[SIZE=10pt]AMR-US Airways Seen Ceding Little in U.S. Suit Settlement[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-13/amr-us-airways-seen-ceding-little-in-u-s-suit-settlement.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]What Is the Secret to US Airways' Ultra-Profitable Washington Hub?[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/14/what-is-the-secret-to-us-airways-ultra-profitabl-2.aspx[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]AMR-LCC Merger Clears Legal Roadblock[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]AMR Corp. and U.S. Airways both currently carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://finance.yahoo.com/news/amr-lcc-merger-clears-legal-202822424.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]2 Surprising Truths Behind the DOJ’s US Airways-American Airlines Merger Decision[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/14/dojs-us-airways-amemerican-airlines-merger.aspx[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]The Winners And Losers of the American Airlines, US Airways Merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The 44 slot pairs at Washington Reagan is painful to a degree, especially given that Reagan was consistently the most profitable operation for pre-merger US Airways. But to put everything into perspective, the divested slots at Reagan and La Guardia represent less than 0.25% of the merged carrier’s capacity is a drop in the bucket in aggregate. And the gate divestitures and service commitments required by the settlement are all things that the merged carrier would have done anyway[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.forbes.com/sites/airchive/2013/11/14/the-winners-and-losers-of-the-us-airways-american-merger/?partner=yahootix[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Lawyers in private antitrust action want a Nov. 18 pre-trial conference with American Airlines, US Airways[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/lawyers-in-private-antitrust-action-want-a-nov-18-pre-trial-conference-with-american-airlines-us-airways.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Delta plans flights to New York, four other cities if it can get (American’s) Dallas Love Field gates[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/delta-plans-flights-to-new-york-four-other-cities-if-it-can-get-dallas-love-field-gates.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Delta, United Unlikely To Get AMR Slots, Official Says [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-14/delta-united-unlikely-to-get-amr-slots-u-s-official-says-1-.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Southwest-JetBlue Seen Reprising Flight-Slot Duel[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-14/southwest-jetblue-seen-reprising-flight-slot-duel.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]APA Update (Key Merger Related Events): November 14, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Fellow pilots,[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]With Tuesday's announcement of a settlement in the Justice Department lawsuit, your APA leadership is now focused on key merger-related events that will occur in the coming weeks and months. The following information details what we know about the timeline of those events, with the caveat that some uncertainties remain about precise timing in some instances.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The Merger and Emergence from Bankruptcy[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]It is quite conceivable, but not certain, that we will exit bankruptcy under new management and receive the first tranche of our equity distribution before year-end 2013. American Airlines and US Airways have stated that they hope to legally — not operationally — close their merger by the second week of December. The date of the legal closing constitutes the Effective Date of the merger, which is the date we will exit bankruptcy. This date will influence the timing of a series of follow-up events, including the equity distribution and joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) negotiations between APA, the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) and the new American Airlines.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]On Nov. 12, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelley signed a Supplemental Stipulated Order, which clears the way for the airlines to merge during the 60-day comment period required by the Tunney Act. It's common practice for companies in settlement situations to close their merger transactions in fewer than 60 days, although our case has unique conditions.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]There has never been a DOJ lawsuit filed to prevent a company in bankruptcy from merging with a non-bankruptcy company as part of a Plan of Reorganization (POR). While Judge Kollar-Kotelley cleared the way from an antitrust standpoint for the airlines to consummate the merger, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane retains jurisdiction of the bankruptcy case. Judge Lane has previously indicated that if a settlement was reached, he would hold a hearing before permitting American Airlines and US Airways to merge, which he has scheduled for Nov. 25.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The specific legal issue is whether the DOJ settlement materially changes the proposed merger and requires another solicitation for the POR. We are hopeful Judge Lane will promptly grant American Airlines permission to merge with US Airways under the terms of the DOJ settlement. If he does, we should be able to exit bankruptcy in about a month. Our attorneys anticipate Judge Lane may rule in favor of American Airlines in short order, given the significance of our airline's bankruptcy restructuring and the recovery creditors are poised to realize.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Equity Distribution[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]If Judge Lane promptly grants the airlines approval to proceed with their merger, the closing date of the merger will fall in early to mid-December. The first tranche of the equity distribution would then follow immediately, spreading the tax liability over two years.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The APA Equity Distribution Committee indicates that within the next few days, American Airlines will begin providing details about the mechanics of the distribution. The company has selected ComputerShare as the interface for pilots to manage their shares. Also, the APA Technical Analysis and Scheduling Committee has constructed a website, slated to go live shortly, that will enable pilots to see their individual distributions.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]APA's financial advisers will assist us in providing you with need-to-know information as the first tranche of the equity distribution approaches. Also, we will survey you about whether you want to defer taxes on a portion of your equity via $uper $aver. If the APA board of directors elects to defer taxes on a portion of our equity stake, that $uper $aver deferral will come only from the second tranche, which is expected to occur in mid-April. While we continue efforts to secure legislation that would give us the ability to defer taxes via traditional individual retirement accounts, $uper $aver represents the only tax-deferral vehicle now available to us.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]JCBA Negotiations[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Within four months of the merger's Effective Date, APA will petition the National Mediation Board (NMB) for a single-carrier declaration. JCBA negotiations are to begin as soon as practicable after the Effective Date of the merger and may be completed anytime between then and 30 days after the NMB issues its single-carrier declaration. Our attorneys have indicated they expect the NMB to rule on the single-carrier petition within a few months of its filing. Once that declaration is made, the NMB will certify the collective bargaining agent for the pilots of the new American Airlines. Absent a significant challenge, the NMB will likely designate APA, as the larger of the two unions, to serve in that capacity. (Under the NMB’s recently amended Merger Procedures, a union must have a showing of interest from 50% of the combined pilot group in order to trigger a representation dispute. APA represents about 66% of the projected 15,000 pilots, so a challenge is unlikely.)[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]As previously illustrated in a timeline post in alliedpilots.org, deadline for conclusion of the JCBA negotiations is currently 30 days after the single-carrier declaration. Absent an agreement, an interest arbitration before a single arbitrator would take place.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Seniority Integration[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Within 30 days or so of the Effective Date, APA and USAPA will negotiate a seniority integration protocol agreement with management. After the protocol agreement is reached, we will begin direct seniority integration negotiations with USAPA. These negotiations will take place over a 90-day period. If no agreement is reached within 90 days of the Effective Date, a panel of three arbitrators will be designated. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]However, the seniority list arbitration cannot commence until the JCBA is either negotiated or an arbitration is completed. The seniority integration arbitration panel will render its award no more than six months after the JCBA negotiations have been completed or after commencement of the McCaskill-Bond interest arbitration. The final deadline for the seniority arbitration award will be no more than 24 months after the Effective Date.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Once again, some of the timing of these events is tentative and subject to change. We will continue to keep you informed of significant developments. This much is certain, though — thanks in large measure to your enthusiastic support, the new American Airlines will soon become a reality.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]In unity,[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Capt. Keith Wilson, President[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]FO Neil Roghair, Vice President[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]FO Pam Torell, Secretary-Treasurer[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 16, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]3 Important Numbers from the American-USAir Settlement[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/16/3-important-numbers-from-the-american-usair-settle.aspx[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Baffling About-Face in American-US Airways Merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/16/business/baffling-about-face-in-american-us-airways-merger.html?partner=yahoofinance&_r=0[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]AMR Bid for Merger Suit Deal Turned on Meeting Magic 104[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-15/amr-bid-for-merger-suit-deal-turned-on-meeting-number.html?cmpid=yhoo[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Airline Merger: DOJ Wins Big at National, Loses on Connecting Routes[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.thestreet.com/story/12110968/1/airline-merger-doj-wins-big-at-national-loses-on-connecting-routes.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]To American Airlines Shareholders: The DOJ Actually Helped You[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/14/to-american-airlines-shareholders-the-doj-actually.aspx[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Alaska Air eyeing AMR, US Air slot sale process, Reuters reports[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.theflyonthewall.com/permalinks/entry.php/ALK;AAMRQ;LCCid1920624/ALK;AAMRQ;LCC-Alaska-Air-eyeing-AMR-US-Air-slot-sale-process-Reuters-reports[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]American Airlines Group Common Stock To Be Listed On The NASDAQ[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://finance.yahoo.com/news/american-airlines-group-common-stock-140000367.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]American Airlines fights plaintiffs’ efforts to block merger and schedule a quick antitrust trial[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/american-airlines-fights-plaintiffs-efforts-to-block-merger-and-schedule-a-quick-antitrust-trial.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Despite US Airways' merger, Phoenix is poised for growth[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.azcentral.com/opinions/articles/20131115us-airways-american-merger-beauvais.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]So this is how the new American rolls[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.dallasnews.com/business/columnists/mitchell-schnurman/20131116-so-this-is-how-the-new-american-rolls.ece[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]A Rare Victory for Competitive Markets - [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]How team Obama's crackpot attempt to block an airline merger crashed and burned.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303789604579200072798580180[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]APA Update (DOJ Slot and Gate Settlement Summary): November 15, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Slot reductions at DCA and LGA are roughly 14% and 7% of the combined "New" American Airlines.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Given the size and scope of the "New" American, these divestitures are manageable with little or no reduction in mainline service.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Capacity reductions at DCA and LGA represent less than a quarter of a percent of the "New" American's 2013 total system capacity — in other words, 112 of ~6,700 daily flights total.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The reductions in DCA and LGA will have an impact on regional jet flying performed mostly by US Airways contract regional carriers operating 50-seat regional jets.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]American Airlines currently holds ~14% of DCA slots, and US Airways holds ~55% of DCA slots. Following these divestitures, the "New" American will hold ~57% of all DCA slots.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]DCA:[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The settlement agreement with the DOJ impacts ~14% of the daily departures operated at DCA by US Airways and American prior to the merger.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]At DCA, the agreement calls for divestiture of 52 slot pairs. This includes 8 slot pairs currently owned by AA and leased by JetBlue.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Taking into account these leased slots, the settlement will result in an actual reduction of 44 slot pairs.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]To put this in perspective, at DCA today, US Airways and American together operate 294 daily network departures (243 US Air and 51 AA).[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]After the DCA slots are divested, we expect to jointly operate ~250 daily weekday departures.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Neither airline has been required to divest its exemptions that today allow service beyond the perimeter (1200 nm) from DCA. (For reference, today those exemptions allow nonstop flights by US Airways or American to LAX, SAN, PHX and LAS.) The "inner perimeter" slots are the only slots being divested.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]LGA:[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The settlement impacts less than 7 percent of the daily departures operated at LGA by US Airways and American prior to the merger.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]At LGA, the agreement calls for 17 slot-pair divestitures. This includes the 5 slot pairs currently owned by American and leased to Southwest.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Taking into account these leased slot pairs, the agreement requires the divestiture of only 12 slot pairs.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]At LGA, US Air and AA together operate 175 daily network departures (65 US Air and 110 AA).[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Post-divestment, US Air and AA will operate 163 daily network departures at LGA.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Other Airports:[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]At 5 additional airports, the settlement agreement calls for the transfer of 2 gates and associated ground facilities (which includes things like ticket counters, hold-rooms, jet bridges and operations space):[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]BOS: 2 gates out of 28 (7 AA/21 US Air) currently operated by US Airways and American, pre-merger. (24 gates are currently operated by the airlines.)[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]DAL: 2 American gates out of 2. Those gates are currently leased to Delta.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]LAX: 2 gates (expected to be 31A and 31B in Terminal 3) out of 26 (23 AA/3 US Air) currently operated by US Airways and American, pre-merger.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]MIA: 2 US Airways gates in Terminal J out of 67 (65 AA/2 US Air) currently operated by US Airways and American, pre-merger.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]ORD: 2 American gates on Concourse L out of 71 (68 AA/3 US Air) currently operated by US Airways and American, pre-merger.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Agreement with States:[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]In the settlement agreement with the state attorneys general, the "New" American has agreed to maintain its hubs at CLT, DFW, JFK, LAX, MIA, ORD, PHL and PHX consistent with historical operations for a period of 3 years.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]In addition, with limited exceptions, for a period of 5 years, the "New" American will continue to provide daily scheduled service from 1 or more of its hubs to each airport in each of the states involved in the original lawsuit that has scheduled daily service from either American or US Airways. This agreement does not include service that is discontinued as the result of the divestitures required as a condition to completing the merger.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]A previous settlement agreement with the state of Texas will be amended to make it consistent with those entered into today with the other states.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Hopeful that airlines acquiring divested slots will maintain service to affected communities[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The "New" American will not end service to any cities. All cities currently served by American and US Airways will retain service.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The divesture of slots will, of course, require the "New" American to discontinue nonstop service from DCA to some destinations currently served by our independent airlines. Those cities are not yet known, but "New" American plans to announce the service changes that will result from the divestitures in advance of the sale of the DCA and LGA slots so that the airlines acquiring those slots have the opportunity to maintain service to those communities.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]DOJ Divestiture Process Overview[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]DOJ agreement term is 10 years.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Process for divesting DCA and LGA slots calls for the sale of slots to occur as quickly as reasonably possible, with full transfer of slots to occur within 90 days of merger close to acquirers that the DOJ must approve; other gates must be transferred within 90 days after the related slot sale.[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Process for divesting key airport gates allows for 180 days post-merger close. Again, DOJ must approve final acquirers.[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 18, 2013[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]American Airlines, plaintiffs to meet Wednesday to discuss antitrust trial[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/american-airlines-plaintiffs-to-meet-wednesday-to-discuss-antitrust-trial.html/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]US Airways Adds 19th Trans-Atlantic Destination From International Gateway At Philadelphia[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-airways-adds-19th-trans-133200574.html[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]JetBlue, Southwest Optimism Over AMR-US Airways Merger Overdone, Cowen Says[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://blogs.barrons.com/stockstowatchtoday/2013/11/18/jetblue-southwest-optimism-on-amr-us-airways-merger-overdone-cowen-says/?mod=yahoobarrons&ru=yahoo[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]A Business Traveler’s View of the Latest Airline Merger[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/19/business/a-business-travelers-view-of-the-latest-airline-merger.html?partner=yahoofinance&_r=0[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Why the DOJ Wants to Clip Delta’s Wings[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/17/why-the-dojs-clipping-deltas-wings.aspx[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Is it time to unmerge some airlines?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2013/11/17/american-us-airways-airlines-merger/3621543/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]USAPA’s What’s Up On The Line?: November 13, 2013[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Q -[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]We currently have CQT training every 12 months.  The rumor is that this will change to a schedule of every 9 months. I believe American is on a 9 month cycle. Now that the merger has been approved, will we be switching over to this program, and if so, when would that be? Can you clear this up for me?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]A -[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]American is currently on a 9-month training cycle. Now that it appears the merger will go through, there’s a real possibility of us moving to a 9-month cycle. We cannot answer this question fully because the people who will make that decision for the New American have not been selected yet. Our Training Committee will stay in-tune with this matter and report it to you as soon as the decision is made.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Q -  [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Now that the merger appears to be going through, when can we expect the POR Effective Date, which triggers our retrospective pay, lump sum payout and other contract enhancements?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]A -[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]The merger will not be official until Judge Lane approves the Plan of Reorganization in the Bankruptcy Court, which is scheduled for November 25. The Company has expressed confidence the Judge will approve the Plan. After announcing the settlement with the DOJ, the Company stated they hoped to see an Effective Date in the first half of December, but nothing is firm at this time. Our Negotiating Advisory Committee will be meeting with the Company this week in Phoenix and will discuss this, as well as other items regarding the merger. Look for an update from them soon.[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 21, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Nothing much happened at Wednesday’s antitrust hearing, we hear[/SIZE]
 
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/nothing-much-happened-at-wednesdays-antitrust-hearing-we-hear.html/
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]District judge lays out timetable for finalizing the American Airlines-US Airways settlement[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/district-judge-lays-out-timetable-for-finalizing-the-american-airlines-us-airways-settlement.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Alioto: We plan to ask for a temporary restraining order in the American Airlines-US Airways case[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/alioto-we-plan-to-ask-for-a-temporary-restraining-order-in-the-american-airlines-us-airways-case.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]We may soon get a first-hand look at American Airlines’ new transcontinental A321[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/we-may-soon-get-a-first-hand-look-at-american-airlines-new-transcontinental-a321.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Flight attendant unions at American Airlines and US Airways are in open battle[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/flight-attendant-unions-at-american-airlines-and-us-airways-are-in-open-battle.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Unions at American Airlines and US Airways fight over how to represent flight attendants after merger[/SIZE]
 
See Story: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/american-us-airways-flight-attendant-223349590.html
 
USAPA’s What's Up on the Line?
[SIZE=10pt]Do you have a question regarding something you heard on the line? Email [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt][email protected][/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] with your specific question and we will consolidate your feedback, address the most commonly asked topics, and post the answers here in the Iron Compass, as well as on the [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]"What's Up on the Line?"[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] page of the USAPA Web site[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt].[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Q – [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Regarding FAR 117: 1) What effects has the Scheduling Committee noticed on the January pairings? For example, I caught a glimpse of the CLT Jan 2014 pairings and noticed fewer red-eyes, long layovers (36 hours in ILM, PWM, etc.), and 2) Now that pairings have been created, and that the Scheduling Committee likely has a better understanding of the implications, what impact is FAR 117 expected to have on pilot staffing?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]A –[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] First of all, keep in mind that pairings on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of January are built to part 121 standards and are not compliant with FAR 117.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]The Scheduling Committee was briefed to expect some significant changes to the pairings starting Jan. 4, 2014. We expected and now see that, due to the effect of the new Flight Time/Duty Time and Rest rules, pairings have changed in a significant way for all fleets both good and bad. The narrow body fleets now have overall shorter duty days with longer average rest periods. There are many more 24+ hour layovers on narrow body fleets. Also, due to no FAR 117 legal rest seat being installed in the Airbus narrow body fleet, there is much more deadheading to and from much of the Caribbean and Central America on one day pairings since it is not possible to legally augment these flight. The wide body fleet will now have almost every trans-Atlantic flight augmented with the exception of PHL – SNN. TLV, ATH, and FCO will now mostly be double augmented (4 pilots). The Company has already been hiring for the last several months in anticipation of the need for more pilots due to FAR 117. If any pilot has a specific question they would like to ask about the new FAR 117 rules, please send an email to [email protected]. A USAPA guide to FAR 117 will be coming out shortly. [/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]An Open Letter From APFA President Laura Glading - November 20, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The following is an open letter from APFA President Laura Glading to AFA-US Airways MEC President Roger Holmin. The letter explains a significant development in the discussions about the representation of all Flight Attendants at the new American. Please stayed tuned to this hotline and www.apfa.org for the latest developments.

November 20, 2013

Roger Holmin
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
501 Third Street, NW, 10th Floor
Washington, D.C.  20001

Dear Roger:

Last year, US Airways announced its intention to merge with American. For the better part of two years, APFA has worked tirelessly to make this merger happen. Flight Attendants can triumph at long last. This should be a time for celebration, renewed cooperation, and unity. But no sooner had the ink dried on the Justice Department’s settlement than AFA-CWA ramped up the kind of divisive rhetoric and tactics that are crippling the labor movement. It is clear now that AFA-CWA is fully committed to trying to force a representation election at the new American. I cannot express how disappointed I am in the way you and your colleagues have chosen to conduct yourselves.

Last Friday, you sent me a letter stating, in no uncertain terms, that the agreement APFA and AFA-CWA had been working toward since the spring was no longer on the table. For months, you and I have sat across that table hammering out the details of this agreement – one that puts Flight Attendants first. In the agreement we had addressed your concerns, including the bargaining timeline, and it provided the protections all Flight Attendants need – including the arbitration backstop. The agreement also creates a joint negotiating committee consisting of members from both APFA and AFA that would put together contract openers based on the best provisions of both contracts. It is a win-win. Now you want to throw all that hard work away. According to the demands in your letter from Friday, my team and I are to arrive at our meeting on November 27 prepared to discuss a completely different proposal. One drafted by AFA-CWA without our input whatsoever. Roger, we simply cannot do that.

In light of your recent letter, earlier today I convened a special conference call of the APFA Board of Directors. We discussed your proposal and your ultimatum. The Board decided unanimously that we cannot abandon months of cooperative discussions simply because the powers that be at AFA-CWA have changed their minds. The APFA Board remains fully committed to the Strategic Partnership Agreement we were so close to finalizing. Since that appears to no longer be up for discussion, there is no point in our meeting on November 27th. Instead, the APFA leadership has chosen to focus on the many tasks at hand that affect or will affect the Flight Attendants of the new American

Despite what some of the AFA leadership have been spreading to your membership and to ours, you and I both know that APFA has been extremely patient, even forgiving, throughout our representation discussions. We have accommodated all of AFA’s challenging internal politics. We tolerated a 10-week pause in our discussions while you tried to oust your International President. We even looked the other way as AFA operatives began to raid us and mislead our membership with a coordinated propaganda campaign. Personally, I cannot count how many attacks on my character – including some from the AFA-CWA International Vice President – I have ignored. Rather than engage in this sideshow, we continued to work towards an agreement because we knew it was in the best interest of the Flight Attendants.

We cannot allow AFA-CWA’s antics to sap our energy and resources. As American prepares to exit bankruptcy and merge with US Airways, we have a higher responsibility. APFA must focus its attention on the critical issues Flight Attendants will be facing in the coming months. Our agenda is full. Our negotiating team is preparing to achieve an industry-leading contract. Our contract department is implementing a bridge agreement. We will be processing the most valuable equity claim any Flight Attendant union has ever seen. We have profit sharing to distribute and new hires to welcome.

As president of the APFA, elected by a direct vote of the membership, it is my responsibility to focus on the task at hand. I cannot afford to submit to AFA’s obvious ploy to distract and divide us. As for what could have been: it will always weigh heavily on my heart.

The work goes on.

In unity,


Laura Glading

cc:        Veda Shook
            Sara Nelson
            Rick Knuth
            Diane Tucker
            Joe Burns
            Larry Cohen
 [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]AmericanAirlines[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] + US Airways 
"On Our Way"

Leslie Mayo
APFA National Communications Coordinator[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]AFA US Airways E-Line - Wednesday, November 20, 2013[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]APFA Breaks Off Negotiations

We are extremely sorry to report that moments ago we received a letter from APFA President Laura Glading advising that there is no point in meeting on the previously confirmed November 27 date to discuss an alternate to the binding arbitration contained in the US Airways/APFA Concessionary Labor Agreement (CLA). We are deeply concerned that this is the wrong move for Flight Attendants and we are continuing to encourage APFA to reconsider. We are confident that we can resolve any differences with a commitment to continue discussions and we remain ever-ready to engage with APFA in that effort.
 
The APFA Board of Directors continues to refuse to move from their position over the summer that the CLA binding arbitration must be the process to determine the future contract for all Flight Attendants at the new American. While AFA attempted to discuss their position and offer solutions for the combined group, those discussions did not produce a resolution which protects the interests of US Airways Flight Attendants. These are the specific issues that need to be fixed:[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The CLA defines the base agreement for negotiations/binding arbitration as the APFA concessionary contract from 2003 with the additional concessions in the CLA. Choosing this one contract as the base agreement extinguishes 65 years of bargaining and contract language within the US Airways contract to the detriment of 24,000 Flight Attendants at the New American Airlines.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Regardless of agreeable statements by APFA for seeking an industry-leading contract, the standard utilized in the CLA is industry-average as compared to United and Delta. This standard would produce concessions for US Airways Flight Attendants and squander an opportunity for a better contract for American Flight Attendants.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]No opportunity for Flight Attendants to vote on the terms of their contract at the New American Airlines.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Since US Airways Flight Attendants were not a party to the negotiations that produced the APFA/US Airways CLA, AFA has proposed utilizing the leverage of the US Airways contract to negotiate a different process with management.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]An expedited process for determining a foundation of negotiations based on the most advantageous provisions of each contract.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]An expedited negotiation period with management that is based on an industry leading standard.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]A true merger of our unions to build power for Flight Attendants and necessitate management’s agreement with our two unions for an alternate expedited negotiations process.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The opportunity for US Airways and American Flight Attendants to vote on both bargaining and representation.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]It is vitally important that Flight Attendants speak up and press for agreement. We have tremendous opportunities available through this merger and we cannot afford to let this slip through our fingertips.
 
The reality is that management comes and goes, but we will all be flying partners for years and decades to come. The industry will change and we will face new challenges. Failing to resolve our issues and reach agreement to stand together will only help management - and they don't need help. Management’s compensation is assured, as we all know, whether the airline succeeds or not. We have to look out for each other.

We are committed to this ideal. If it means that we must take this option directly to members to decide, that is what we are prepared to do because you deserve the right to decide your future. In the meantime, we are hopeful that APFA leaders will reconsider and join us for problem-solving.

In Solidarity,

Roger Holmin
MEC President
AFA US Airways[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 22, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Key lawmakers want big airlines to bid for airport gates being lost by American, US Airways[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/lawmakers-urge-bidding-gates-airline-181027285.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Lamakers want to let all airlines compete for slots and gates, not just low-cost carriers[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/lawmakers-want-to-let-all-airlines-compete-for-slots-and-gates-not-just-low-cost-carriers.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]US Airways/AMR merger means one union must exit[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://www.thestreet.com/story/12119391/1/us-airwaysamr-merger-means-a-labor-union-must-exit.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]American Airlines unions urge judge to approve settlement, let merger happen[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/american-airlines-unions-urge-judge-to-approve-settlement-let-merger-happen.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Antitrust attorney files for a temporary restraining order to block American-US Airways merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://startelegram.typepad.com/sky_talk/http://startelegram.typepad.com/sky_talk/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Airline merger still likely next month despite antitrust order[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20131122_Airline_merger_still_likely_next_month_despite_antitrust_order.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Heavy maintenance facility could survive US Airways-American merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://triblive.com/business/headlines/5093911-74/airways-american-airline#axzz2lPxrrglf[/SIZE]

 

[Claxon]

Someone with a lot of time on their hands is sending updates in BK court today.
 
https://mobile.twitter.com/JasonWhitely