IMHO
A business transaction between American Airlines and US Airways is imminent, this year. Us Airways has divested the majority of its LGA (New York) slots and BOS slots to make it more palatable for the DOT and other government entities. The additional slot swap with Delta is another means of US Airways gaining slots in DCA where American is weak and shedding New York and Boston slots where American is strong.
American Airlines and US Airways, in concert, are screaming fuel prices now to fain necessity of the combination.
The west and East separate entities will be split. The west operations to others, the East to American. The corporate take over papers will have US Airways as the surviving entity to overcome change of control provisions in the pilots contract, American will be the surviving name. To those that are less than versed in these matters it will appear that American is the acquirer, although they are not.
The conception of this transaction will be in the near future. The selling point of this, is a five year gestation period when most of the US Airways pilots will be retired, the birth will occur then.