American Airlines moves closer to US merger
American Airlines and US Airways have moved closer to a potential merger, following the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to pilot employment.
In an official joint statement released on Saturday, the two airlines said they had completed discussions with the Allied Pilots Association and US Airline Pilots Association, intended to develop a framework for the terms of employment for pilots, as well as a process for pilot integration, in the event of a merger. It added said the MoU would help the airlines to make “an informed decision as to whether a merger should ultimately be pursued”. Details of the MoU were not disclosed.
American Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection in late 2011 and has since been subject to continued interest from US Airways. If realised, the combined company would become the world’s biggest airline group, with a fleet of carrying upwards of 160 million passengers a year with a fleet of approximately 1,500 aircraft.