FORT WORTH, Texas and
TEMPE, Ariz., Aug. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AMR Corporation
(OTCQB: AAMRQ), the parent company of American Airlines, Inc., and
US Airways Group, Inc. (NYSE: LCC) today announced that they intend
to mount a vigorous and strong defense to the U.S. Department of
Justice's ("DOJ") effort to block their proposed merger.
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"We believe that the DOJ is wrong in its assessment of our
merger. Integrating the complementary networks of American and US
Airways to benefit passengers is the motivation for bringing these
airlines together. Blocking this procompetitive merger will deny
customers access to a broader airline network that gives them more
choices.
"Further, this merger provides the best outcome for AMR's
restructuring. The widespread support from the employees and
financial stakeholders of both airlines underscores the fact that
this is the best path forward for both airlines and the customers
and communities we serve.
"We will mount a vigorous defense and pursue all legal options
in order to achieve this merger and deliver the benefits of the new
American to our customers and communities as soon as possible."
Benefits of the New American
Promotes Competitiveness
With more than 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56
countries around the world, the new American Airlines will
strengthen communities nationwide through better service and travel
to more destinations both domestically and internationally.
Importantly, the combined airline expects to maintain current hubs
of both airlines and expand service from those hubs, resulting in
more choices for customers. The result for consumers is that the
new American will be a highly competitive alternative to other
domestic and global carriers.
Greater Long-Term Opportunities for Employees
Employees of the combined airline will benefit from being part of a
company with a more competitive and strong financial foundation,
which will create greater opportunities over the long term. The
merger will also provide the path to improved compensation and
benefits for employees.
More Choices, Increased Service, and an Enhanced Travel
Experience for Customers
Customers will benefit from new flying options, more choices,
increased service and an enhanced travel experience. We expect our
complementary flight networks to increase efficiency and provide
more options for customers. Greater connectivity with
oneworld® alliance partners will give customers
more options for travel and benefits both domestically and
internationally.
The merger provides the best outcome for American's
restructuring with creditors and equity holders receiving nearly
unprecedented recoveries and having approved the Plan of
Reorganization overwhelmingly.
As previously announced, the boards of directors of both AMR and
US Airways approved a plan to combine to create the new American
Airlines, a premier global carrier.
About American Airlines
American Airlines focuses on providing an exceptional travel
experience across the globe, serving more than 260 airports in more
than 50 countries and territories. American's fleet of nearly 900
aircraft fly more than 3,500 daily flights worldwide from hubs in
Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami and New
York. American flies to nearly 100 international locations
including important markets such as London, Madrid, Sao
Paulo and Tokyo. With more
than 500 new planes scheduled to join the fleet, including
continued deliveries of the Boeing 737 family of aircraft and new
additions such as the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A320 family
of aircraft, American is building toward the youngest and most
modern fleet among major U.S. carriers. American's website,
AA.com®, provides customers with easy access to check
and book fares, and personalized news, information and travel
offers. American's AAdvantage® program, voted Airline
Program of the Year at the 2013 Freddie Awards, lets members redeem
miles for flights to almost 950 destinations worldwide, as well as
flight upgrades, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and
other retail products. The airline also offers nearly 40 Admirals
Club® locations worldwide providing comfort,
convenience, and an environment with a full range of services
making it easy for customers to stay productive without
interruption. American is a founding member of the
oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of
the best and biggest airlines in the world, including global brands
like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia Airlines, Japan
Airlines, LAN and Qantas. Together, its members serve more than 840
destinations served by some 9,000 daily flights to nearly 160
countries and territories. Connect with American on Twitter
@AmericanAir or Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. American Airlines,
Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR
Corporation. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol
"AAMRQ" on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets
Group.
About US Airways
US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express,
operates more than 3,100 flights per day and serves 198 communities
in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle
East, the Caribbean,
Central and South America. The
airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide,
operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus aircraft and is a
member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers
more than 21,900 daily flights to 1,329 airports in 194 countries.
Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves
approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in
Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. Aviation Week and Overhaul
& Maintenance magazine presented US Airways with the 2012
Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of the Year Award
for demonstrating outstanding achievement and innovation in the
area of technical operations. Military Times Edge magazine named US
Airways as a Best for Vets employer for the past three years. US
Airways was, for the third year in a row, the only airline included
as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA
Style magazine's 50 Report. The airline also earned a 100 percent
rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index for
six consecutive years. The Corporate Equality index is a leading
indicator of companies' attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender employees and customers. For more company
information visit usairways.com, follow on Twitter @USAirways or at
Facebook.com/USAirways.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This document includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by
words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "anticipate,"
"believe," "estimate," "plan," "project," "could," "should,"
"would," "continue," "seek," "target," "guidance," "outlook,"
"forecast" and other similar words. These forward-looking
statements are based on AMR's and US Airways' current objectives,
beliefs and expectations, and they are subject to significant risks
and uncertainties that may cause actual results and financial
position and timing of certain events to differ materially from the
information in the forward-looking statements. The following
factors, among others, could cause actual results and financial
position and timing of certain events to differ materially from
those described in the forward-looking statements: failure of
a proposed transaction to be implemented; the challenges and costs
of closing, integrating, restructuring and achieving anticipated
synergies; the ability to retain key employees; and other economic,
business, competitive, and/or regulatory factors affecting the
businesses of US Airways and AMR generally, including those set
forth in the filings of US Airways and AMR with the SEC, especially
in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of their
respective annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q, their current reports on Form 8-K and other SEC filings,
including the registration statement, proxy statement and
prospectus. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the
statements. Neither AMR nor US Airways assumes any obligation
to publicly update or supplement any forward-looking statement to
reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other
factors affecting these forward-looking statements except as
required by law.
SOURCE American Airlines