PilotAction US Airways & American Airlines Trial & Other News Update

[traderjake]

Somebody with a lot of time on their hands reads and post the updates. 
 
If I was out on a medical and didn't have to work I'd have a lot of time on my hands

 

[Claxon]

Somebody with a lot of time on their hands reads and post the updates. 
 
If I was out on a medical and didn't have to work I'd have a lot of time on my hands

Warning,   your mental medical only pays disability for 24months.  You dad is a selfish example of what was wrong with the pilot profession in the past.

 

[USA320Pilot]

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 25, 2013[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=10pt]American Airlines and US Airways Face Latest Antitrust Battle[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/american-airlines-and-us-airways-face-latest-antitrust-battle.html/?ref=YF[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=10pt]Airline Slots Are Far From Settled[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/24/airline-slots-are-far-from-settled.aspx[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=10pt]AMR seeks court approval for settlement to pave the way to US Airways merger[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/amr-seeks-court-approval-settlement-190439654.html[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=10pt]Judge: I’ll rule as quickly as I can in American Airlines-US Airways case, maybe today[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/judge-ill-rule-as-quickly-as-i-can-in-american-airlines-us-airways-case-maybe-today.html/[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=10pt]Bankruptcy listens to arguments on American-US Airways merger[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://startelegram.typepad.com/sky_talk/[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=10pt]How the new American stacks up against the competition[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]The new American will have more than $38 billion in annual revenue, 1,500 aircraft, 6,500 daily flights and more than 100,000 employees, making it bigger than rivals United Airlines and Delta Air Lines[/SIZE]
 

[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://blogs.star-telegram.com/sky_talk/2013/11/how-the-new-american-stacks-up-against-the-competition.html[/SIZE]

 

[traderjake]

Warning,   your mental medical only pays disability for 24months.  You dad is a selfish example of what was wrong with the pilot profession in the past.

 
Your Mom says get back in the basement and quit bothering people.

 

[Phoenix]

  10:00 AM Tomorrow
 
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-26/amr-bankruptcy-judge-to-rule-on-settlement-tomorrow-lawyer-says.html?cmpid=street

 

[USA320Pilot]

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 26, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Judge to rule Wednesday on American Airlines merger and bankruptcy plan[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/judge-to-rule-wednesday-on-american-airlines-merger-and-bankruptcy-plan.html/[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: November 27, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Court clears settlement among U.S. Justice, AMR, US Airways[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://finance.yahoo.com/news/court-approves-settlement-among-justice-152612083.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Judge OKs American Airlines-US Airways merger, American’s exit from bankruptcy[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/judge-oks-american-airlines-us-airways-merger-americans-exit-from-bankruptcy.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]AMR Corporation Emergence From Chapter 11 And Merger Close Expected On Dec. 9 - Notice Filed with U.S. Bankruptcy Court[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://finance.yahoo.com/news/amr-corporation-emergence-chapter-11-155100939.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]American-US Airways merger to close on December 9th[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://startelegram.typepad.com/sky_talk/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Here’s Judge Lane’s order on American Airlines-US Airways merger, rejection of restraining order[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/heres-judge-lanes-order-on-american-airlines-us-airways-merger-rejection-of-restraining-order.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=9pt]APA INFORMATION HOTLINE: November 27, 2013 [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=9pt]This is APA Communications Director Gregg Overman with the APA Information Hotline for Wednesday, Nov. 27.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=9pt]U.S. BANKRUPTCY JUDGE GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO MERGER:[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] During a hearing this morning in New York, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane issued a ruling that will enable American Airlines to exit Chapter 11 restructuring and merge with US Airways in accordance with the terms of the Justice Department settlement. Judge Lane issued a bench ruling, which will be followed by a more detailed written ruling.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=9pt]Today's ruling represents a pivotal event in American Airlines' Chapter 11 restructuring. Current projections are for American Airlines to exit Chapter 11 and merge with US Airways on or around Dec. 9.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=9pt]The judge addressed three related items in his ruling:[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=9pt]The AMR/American Airlines motion that the settlement of the Justice Department lawsuit didn't significantly alter the previously approved plan of reorganization (POR). Judge Lane ruled that settlement does not constitute a significant alteration of the POR and therefore does not require another vote on the plan of reorganization by the airline's creditors.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=9pt]A request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) from plaintiffs in a private antitrust lawsuit. Judge Lane denied the request for a TRO.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=9pt]The AMR/American Airlines motion asking for an order that enables the merger with US Airways to be consummated. Judge Lane approved the motion, which enables the carriers to proceed with their planned merger.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=9pt]As we look forward to the merger, the APA leadership extends its heartfelt appreciation for all you have done to help bring American Airlines to this historic juncture.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=9pt]That's it for now. Thank you for checking this hotline.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]USAPA President’s Message: November 27, 2913[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Fellow Pilots,[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Monday morning, I attended the Bankruptcy proceedings in New York where Judge Sean Lane heard final arguments surrounding the American Airlines bankruptcy. I am happy to announce that Judge Lane approved the Plan of Reorganization for American Airlines just a short time ago. This means the largest airline merger in history will go forward with an expected POR Effective Date planned to occur by mid-December, if not sooner.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The Negotiating Advisory Committee will be sending you more detailed information of the immediate wage and benefit increases that will be coming your way, including a retrospective payout and a $40 million lump-sum distribution the Company is now scheduling to send to you by year-end.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]This is a historic period for us all – and this day would not have been possible without your many years of service and sacrifice. We are now on a path to move our careers forward.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Looking back, the path was often uncertain, as we faced very difficult and long odds. It wasn’t too long ago USAPA was relegated to the sidelines and ignored. In fact, just two days after your Officers and I took office, the proposed merger was announced and soon thereafter, Management made it clear they believed your union was not needed as a participant in the process.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]That didn’t sit well with you -- and it didn’t sit well with me either. As pilots, we are not passive individuals; rather, we know it is our job to chart the best course to our destination. That’s why your union adopted a very aggressive strategy to ensure we arrived on this day with equal pay, benefits, and working conditions for all pilots of the New American Airlines. We began working with other unions at US Airways and formed the Union Labor Coalition. We reached out to Capitol Hill, used a very assertive media strategy, and consulted with experts in mergers and acquisitions. Most importantly, instead of becoming combatant with our fellow pilots at APA, we began to embrace open and cooperative communication.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Our strategy paid off when your union was included as an equal participant in the four-party negotiations that included management and pilot unions of the two airlines. Those negotiations produced an MOU which carried the unanimous vote of the BPR and was overwhelmingly ratified by you. It was an incremental process, and we all -- East and West, North and South, USAPA and APA -- learned how to work together to produce the best deal possible for us all.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Yet, the process is not complete and there is still much work that lies ahead. We will need to complete the merger, negotiate a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement, and complete the seniority integration. Additionally, we all need to do a better job in communicating with each other – and I pledge to do my part. We must have one collective voice as that will be our most powerful advantage. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]I am proud of this union and those individuals – including the BPR, Officers, Committee chairs and Committee members – who work so hard each and every day to get the job done. I especially thank each and every one of you for the amazing job you do and for your support over these past 19 months.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we certainly have much to be thankful for. Whether you’re out working on this holiday or fortunate enough to be home, I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving and upcoming joyous holiday season.[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]APFA Special Hotline - Judge Lane Approves the Merger With US Airways[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]At a hearing this morning,  Judge Lane approved the consummation of the merger and the settlement between American, US Airways and the participating state attorneys general.  He soundly rejected the request to block the merger brought by individual plaintiffs (the "Alioto Plaintiffs”) who had asserted that the transaction violated the anti-trust law. He found that the Alioto Plaintiffs had presented no evidence of irreparable harm, the most critical element needed to obtain a temporary restraining order. The Judge will issue a full written decision by around noon today.
                
It is now anticipated that the merger will be completed as quickly as possible with its consummation and AA’s exit from bankruptcy to occur as early as December 9.
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[SIZE=10pt]AmericanAirlines[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] + US Airways 
"On Our Way"

Leslie Mayo
APFA National Communications Coordinator[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

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[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines #2: November 27, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Judge says plaintiffs in private antitrust case will have to pay airlines for legal, court costs[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/judge-says-plaintiffs-in-private-antitrust-case-will-have-to-pay-airlines-for-legal-court-costs.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Alioto: We’re going to appeal the denial of the American Airlines-US Airways restraining order[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/alioto-were-going-to-appeal-the-denial-of-the-american-airlines-us-airways-restraining-order.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]As it stands now, AMR shareholders will get about as much as US Airways shareholders in $18.1 billion merge[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/as-it-stands-now-amr-shareholders-will-get-about-as-much-as-us-airways-shareholders-in-18-1-billion-merger.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]As American, US Airways merge, key decisions await[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story:[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2022349741_airlinemergernextstepsxml.html?syndication=rss[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

US Airways Chief Describes Biggest Challenges
in AMR Settlement

Doug Parker Cites Keeping Executives—and His Wife—on Task After Government Filed Suit
 
CHICAGO (WSJ.com) - US Airways Group Inc. Chief Executive Doug Parker was checking email at his home in Paradise Valley, Ariz., early on Aug. 13 when he received a terse message at 6:43 that his company's planned merger was in serious trouble.

Mr. Parker had been engineering the combination with American Airlines since soon after its parent, AMR Corp.,filed for bankruptcy protection in November 2011. Now the Justice Department was suing on antitrust grounds to stop the biggest merger in airline-industry history.

"Business people aren't supposed to be surprised, but we were absolutely surprised," Mr. Parker says. The suit gave rise to "one of the hardest management situations I've had to work through."

In his first extensive interview since the skirmish with the Justice Department began, Mr. Parker says overcoming the government's objections was only part of his challenge. He also had to persuade executives and employees at both companies—and even his own wife—that the deal would go through. And now, that the deal has been cleared,US Airways already is working to take some of the starch out of American's buttoned-up corporate culture.

Mr. Parker and his colleagues reached a settlement with the government on Nov. 12 that will let the deal close next Monday. Mr. Parker will take the top job at the new American Airlines Group Inc., which will become the world's largest carrier by traffic.

The 52-year-old Mr.Parker, who started his airline career in 1986 in American's finance department, is the longest-sitting CEO currently running a U.S. airline. This will be his second merger, following the 2005 acquisition of US Airways when he was running America West Airlines.

Mr. Parker's team is experienced in merger integration. And "We've seen what other airlines did," he says. "But it's really difficult work. We're doing everything we can to do it as well as possible and not cause disruption to our customers."

The highest risk is moving US Airways to American's passenger reservation system, the nerve center for everything from passenger bookings to check in and frequent-flier accounts.

"It's an enormous endeavor that we didn't manage as well as we liked at America West-US Airways," he says. Their systems integration was marred by late flights, computer glitches,non functioning check-in kiosks, mishandled bags and customer complaints. The problems took months to resolve.

The longer-term challenge now is bridging cultural divides. There are stark differences in management style, Mr. Parker says. between US Airways, which is based in Tempe,Ariz., and AMR, of Fort Worth, Texas.

"Most of them are long-term American employees who haven't worked outside, which is both a plus and a minus," he says. "They are much more focused on structure and process, and the US Airways team less so. The American team makes sure everything is really, really ready to go before they pull the trigger. We have a bias for action with less preparation."

Mr. Parker says he saw an opportunity immediately when AMR filed for bankruptcy two years ago. He long had thought that a combination made sense and would offer a way to compete with bigger, already-merged rivals. Bankruptcy protection meant AMR's outsize costs would be addressed and potentially create a stronger competitor to US Airways."We knew we didn't want to sit around" and watch the larger airline restructure.

But he had to persuade other people, including a reluctant American management. American's unions came around first, then its creditors. Finally in the fall of last year, AMR's directors and CEO Tom Horton agreed to examine a merger.

The airlines agreed on a stock swap—valued at nearly $18 billion based on US Airways' share price on Friday—in February. The combined management team and a new board were selected in June, with Mr. Horton tapped to serve as non executive chairman. The airlines aimed to close the deal in late August.

When US Airways' board approved the deal, Mr. Parker told them, "Not once did we wake up and get an emergency phone call about something we didn't expect," he recalls."Our advisers gave us good advice along the way."

Then came Aug. 13 and Mr. Parker's email from Paul Denis, an antitrust lawyer for US Airways at Dechert LLP. A flurry of telephone calls ensued.

"We knew it was a possibility," Mr. Parker says of the government's challenge. "We'd been talking to them and they never said, 'Don't worry.' But we had five senior lawyers working on this thing and they never thought we'd be sued."

The Justice Department"came out with extremely bold, black-and-white statements that the only answer here was a complete injunction. Full stop," the CEO said."They didn't want to settle."

Beyond their response to the government, Mr. Parker and his colleagues had to quell anxiety within.Executives who hadn't been chosen to work for the combined company needed to stay on to run the separate airlines. Some of those people wondered if they should have new hope. And executives who had been looking forward to the merger thought, " 'How do I go back to this world I'm less excited about,' "Mr. Parker says.

Mr. Parker insisted that the integration planning teams continue their work. But some American employees thought that was futile and wanted to craft a new plan in case the company had to emerge from Chapter 11 alone.

"American had two primary goals: to run a great airline and get out of restructuring as soon as possible," an AMR spokesman says. "If the lawsuit meant we were not coming out…in the near future, we still had to run a great airline."

Mr. Parker feared the deal could unravel.

"We wanted to keep the excitement and momentum going," he says. "So we kept showing up at [AMR's] headquarters, even though we weren't invited. It was uncomfortable and awkward."

" 'We can't look like we don't have confidence,' " he recalls thinking. "It was fragile enough that if we had let it, it would have fallen apart."

His wife, Gwen, had already moved with their two youngest children from Arizona to a furnished rental home in a Dallas suburb. But she asked whether she really needed to get a Texas driver's license. " 'It's bad karma if you don't,' " he told her.

Mr. Parker says American's Mr. Horton has been "all in" since the two boards agreed to merge. "Tom had to call his team, many of whom were making big decisions about their future that didn't include working at American Airlines.[He told them], 'We can't have this company not being managed. You have tore-engage.' "

Initial settlement offers to the Justice Department went nowhere. But as both sides prepared for a Nov. 25 trial, renewed talks led to November's agreement. The Justice Department says that the concessions the airlines made—ceding slots and gates at several busy airports—will allow discount carriers to expand, fostering competition.

The more-relaxed US Airways already has made a mark on its merger partner. American recently dropped its strict dress code for what employees may wear on flights when they are traveling off duty. Shorts were barred except for children 6 years old and younger, as were leggings, T-shirts, warm-up suits and other casual wear."Now you can wear nice jeans in first class," Mr. Parker says.

And US Airways' company wide Halloween celebration, in which executives dress up as pop stars and perform skits for costumed employees, will be rolled out in Fort Worth.

"We do complain about it, but it's a great event," says Mr. Parker, whose birthday is Halloween.

"It helps all the employees see us out making fun of ourselves," he says. "People bring their kids. It helps create more of a family."

 

[USA320Pilot]

PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: December 2, 2013

How a 2-page letter led to American Airlines' antitrust settlement with the feds

See Story: http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20131201-how-a-2-page-letter-led-to-american-airlines-antitrust-settlement-with-the-feds.ece

 

[USA320Pilot]

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[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: December 3, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Shares of Bankrupt American Airlines Go Sky High for Investors[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304579404579236260563432596[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]AMR-US Airways Merger Should Benefit Discount Airlines[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]http://www.thestreet.com/story/12135260/1/amr-us-airways-merger-should-benefit-discount-airlines.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]How Much Will the US Airways-American Airlines Merger Save Them?[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]http://wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/how-much-will-the-us-airways-american-airlines-merger-save-them.html/?ref=YF[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]American Airlines Group Equity Distribution Update[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]http://finance.yahoo.com/news/american-airlines-group-equity-distribution-220000842.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]John Hale to be VP-flight at new American Airlines Group[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/john-hale-to-be-vp-flight-at-new-american-airlines-group.html/[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: December 4, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]New American’s CEO Seeks to Top $1 Billion Goal in Merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-04/new-american-s-ceo-seeks-to-top-1-billion-goal-in-merger.html?cmpid=yhoo[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]American Airlines: It’s not really our choice who gets the LaGuardia slots[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/american-airlines-its-not-really-our-choice-who-gets-the-laguardia-slots.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Southwest, Virgin America to buy LaGuardia slots -source[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/southwest-virgin-america-buy-laguardia-000634411.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Judge denies request to delay American Airlines-US Airways merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/update-judge-denies-request-to-delay-american-airlines-us-airways-merger.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]US Airways pilots to vote on whether they want to recall union president and vice president[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/us-airways-pilots-to-vote-on-whether-they-want-to-recall-union-president-and-vice-president.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Why Convenient US Airways Flights Will Disapear After the American Airlines Merger Is Complete[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/12/04/why-convenient-us-airways-flights-will-disapear-af.aspx[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]US Airways Reports November Traffic Results[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-airways-reports-november-traffic-130000532.html[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: December 5, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]FAA approves LaGuardia slots to Southwest and Virgin America[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://startelegram.typepad.com/sky_talk/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Bankruptcy judge rejects late effort to halt American Airlines-US Airways merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20131204-bankruptcy-judge-rejects-late-effort-to-halt-american-airlines-us-airways-merger.ece[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]American Airlines Special Jetwire: December 5, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]A Message from Tom[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Dear American Team:[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Two years ago this month, we were at a critical moment in our company’s history. We faced huge challenges. The skeptics doubted our ability to see our way through.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]How did the people of American respond? You delivered! You proved wrong all those who questioned our future. On Monday, we will complete our merger with US Airways, one of the most important milestones in the 87-year history of this airline. In so doing, we will have completed one of the most successful restructurings in airline history, or in any industry. This two-year journey – which began under extreme conditions – ends with a win for all stakeholders: our people, customers and owners.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]We’ve worked together to build great momentum on the way to our merger. We’re taking delivery of hundreds of modern, efficient new planes. We’re launching new routes and new partnerships in important growth markets around the world. We’re building a modern travel experience, with new technology and new products and services. We introduced a fresh new look. And most importantly, we’re welcoming recalled and new colleagues to American, with more flight attendants, pilots, and agents joining our team every day.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]At the same time we’ve achieved record-setting results with new high marks for revenue and profit in the past several months. And we’ve served our investors well. Our bonds, once valued at cents on the dollar, have risen to full value, reflecting full recovery for our creditors. Our stock price has risen nearly fortyfold since we began our restructuring. These results are a validation of your hard work to build a strong and competitive American, and have allowed us to put money aside for a 2013 profit sharing payout – the first in a decade.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]This all happened because of you – because you care deeply about this airline and our customers. Your professionalism, dedication and commitment are an inspiration.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Monday marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another. American is in great shape to join forces with US Airways and compete globally for our customers’ business. Everything we’ve achieved will[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]give the new American great momentum from day one.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Momentum is important, since combining two airlines won’t be easy. But the same dedication you’ve shown will help ensure the success of the new American in the years ahead. Ours is an amazing success story – and the future promises to be even brighter.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]As you know, while I’ll remain on as chairman of the board, the CEO reins will pass to Doug Parker, a first rate leader and longtime friend. I’ll be cheering you to even greater heights under Doug’s leadership.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Finally, no words here could do justice to the gratitude and respect I have for all of you. It has been a great privilege to be part of an extraordinary team at an extraordinary time.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Thanks for all you do![/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Tom[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: December 6, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]A Tricky Airline Merger, but With Labor’s Blessing[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/07/business/a-tricky-airline-merger-but-with-labors-blessing.html?partner=yahoofinance&_r=0[/SIZE]

 
[SIZE=10pt]NY judge refuses to block American Airlines merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ny-judge-refuses-block-american-210415342.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Private antitrust lawsuit strikes out again[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/private-antitrust-lawsuit-strikes-out-again.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]American Airlines: Nov. passenger revenue rose 1 pct; traffic drops after late Thanksgiving[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]http://finance.yahoo.com/news/american-airlines-nov-passenger-revenue-224520528.html[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]American and US Airways to close merger Monday[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2013/12/06/american-us-airways/3881419/[/SIZE]

 

[USA320Pilot]

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]PilotAction Merger News for US Airways & American Airlines: December 8, 2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Labor Deals Stand to Ease Way for New American Air[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]CHICAGO (WSJ.com) - When employees of the new American Airlines Group Inc. ring the Nasdaq Stock Market's opening bell Monday from the carrier's Texas headquarters, many of them will be cheering because they already know what their pay and benefits will be—unlike in most airline mergers.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The new American has secured temporary labor agreements that spell out how the merged airline will quickly integrate key groups of workers from the former American Airlines and US Airways. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"One of the advantages we have in this merger, compared with other mergers historically, is that our labor deals are largely done," Scott Kirby, the new airline's president, recently told reporters. Some rival carriers that have merged in past years still are grappling with labor unrest.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]No one is expecting American's integration process to go off without a hitch. Indeed, there are signs of tensions among the unions that represent most of the combined airline's 100,000 workers. Its flight-attendant unions have begun squabbling over which union will represent its 24,000 cabin-crew members. And US Airways mechanics are vowing not to integrate with their peers at American until their own stalled contract talks are resolved.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Still, the relative head start could remove much of the emotion and volatility that can hamper workforce integration and distract management from focusing on the myriad other details of combining two large companies, said Gary Chaison, a labor professor at Clark University in Worcester, Mass.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"It's a tremendous benefit to know the workforces are behind the merger," he said. "It makes the other more technical issues easier to resolve."[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The new American's preparations are expected to ease the process of integrating its labor force, which for an airline typically includes getting unionized employees to agree which unions will represent them, negotiating new combined labor contracts—and standing by while the unions tussle over drawing up unified seniority lists. Seniority is central to airline workers' pay, assignments and schedules. Agreeing on a seniority formula can take years, and often leads to union squabbling, litigation, illegal work slowdowns, demoralized employees and poor customer service.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Most previous airline mergers followed the path of "merge now, negotiate later," said J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. airline analyst Jamie Baker. Three years after the merger that formed United Continental Holdings[/SIZE] Inc., that carrier's flight attendants and mechanics still lack joint contracts and seniority lists.
 
[SIZE=10pt]US Airways also struggled with labor integration after its 2005 merger with America West Airlines. Delta Air Lines Inc. broke the mold in 2008 by reaching a deal with its pilots ahead of its merger with Northwest Airlines.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]University of Chicago economics professor Stacey Kole, who has studied labor integration in airline mergers, praised American's extensive groundwork, but suggested there could be trouble ahead. "Having the work groups coordinated is unusual," she said. "Whether it'll hold together is the question."[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Some cracks have begun to show. After months negotiating a framework to bring both groups of flight attendants under a single union, the two unions have quit talking and started sparring publicly.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The Association of Flight Attendants, the US Airways union, contends that the interim labor deal for the new American's flight attendants, which kicks in on Monday, would give the combined group no leverage in joint contract talks. The plan allows 60 days of bargaining before forcing them into binding arbitration. The AFA argues that would mean concessions for its members.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The American group, which has twice as many members, says the US Airways union is bent on trying to retain representation by getting thousands of American attendants to agree to a union election.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The mechanics are the farthest from a joint contract. The International Association of Machinists union, which represents about 11,000 mechanics and baggage handlers at US Airways, said more than a year of talks on new contracts are stalled.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"Regardless of the merger, US Airways mechanics will work [only] on US Airways planes" until they receive a new contract, said Bill Wise, a 30-year US Airways mechanic on the union's negotiating committee.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The more numerous American Airlines mechanics and ramp workers already have agreed to interim contracts with the new airline. But they won't be able to start joint talks until the US Airways groups have new labor accords.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]The pilots are in a better situation. Both pilot groups, which stand to receive improved interim wages and benefits starting Monday, are displaying relative harmony. US Airways pilots will get immediate pay increases of as much as 35%, and American's pilots will get a big slice of the new company's equity.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]"We're all unified in the opinion that the culture we had wasn't desirable," said Capt. Dave Bates, an American pilot since 1984 and the former pilot-union president who pushed for the merger as American's best way out of bankruptcy protection. "Now that there's a new start with a new team, I think people will embrace that." But he conceded that "the honeymoon won't last forever."[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Doug Parker, chief executive of the new American, said in a recent interview that cultural change "starts at the top," but that the process could take time. "You can't change people and the way they work overnight," he warned.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Many rank-and-file employees support the merger, although some say they are a bit nervous. American employees said they are looking forward to escaping years of animosity with their old management. And US Airways employees have said they are eager to become part of a large global airline.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Sara Corrigan, a 14-year US Airways attendant based in Philadelphia, said the merger will improve job security, add destinations and enable US Airways attendants to offer improved in-flight service. "We're all happy to go back to doing a first-class product," she said.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Tony Leonhardt, a 30-year American flight attendant based in Los Angeles, said he and his colleagues were dreading the prospect of American coming out of bankruptcy without a merger partner because it was clear management "would continue on with their same business model that's been a failure." Instead, "I believe Doug Parker is the new, fresh blood that we need to inject in American."[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Supreme Court rejects last ditch effort to block American Airlines-US Airways merger[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/supreme-court-rejects-last-ditch-effort-to-block-american-airlines-us-airways-merger.html/[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]American Airlines, US Airways to form largest air carrier on Monday[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/08/news/companies/american-airlines-us-airways-merger/index.html?source=yahoo_quote[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]After a long  journey, American nears its new destination as world’s largest airline[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20131207-after-a-long-journey-american-nears-its-new-destination-as-worlds-largest-airline.ece[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Meet the Executive Team of the New American Airlines[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]See Story: http://startelegram.typepad.com/sky_talk/[/SIZE]