Business

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

$11-B merger creates world's largest airline

American joins forces with US Airways

By: Joshua Freed And David Koenig

Posted: 02/15/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

LM Otero / The Associated Press US Airways CEO Doug Parker (left) and American Airlines CEO Tom Horton like what they see during a news conference at DFW International Airport in Grapevine, Texas, on Thursday. The two airlines are forming the world�s largest airline. (CP)

DALLAS -- US Airways CEO Doug Parker has landed the big merger he sought for years. Now the soon-to-be CEO of the new American Airlines has to make it work.

Planes need painting. Frequent-flier programs have to be combined. And the new airline will still be weak in Asia and need to win back business travellers who have been drifting away to other airlines.

The two airlines announced an $11-billion merger Thursday that will turn American into the world's biggest airline, with some 6,700 daily flights and annual revenue of roughly $40 billion. It's a coup for Parker, who runs the much-smaller US Airways and has long pursued a deal like this one with the belief that airlines would have a better shot at consistent profits if they bulk up through mergers.

The latest deal will mean the four biggest U.S. airlines are all the product of mergers that began in 2008. Those deals bring benefits, but they also show putting together two airlines smoothly is not easy.

Some of the work on the latest combination has already been done. Pilots from both airlines have agreed to the outlines of a deal that should make it much easier to get a final, joint contract. And Parker is inclined to use American's computer systems such as those that track reservations and passenger information, he said on a conference call. He said past mergers have shown that it's easier to use the bigger airline's technology, because then fewer people at the smaller airline need to learn it.

Noting those factors, JP Morgan analyst Jamie Baker predicted a "relatively smooth" transition.

The combined carrier is going to be called American Airlines and be based in Fort Worth, Texas. The deal is expected to close by the end of September, as part of American's emergence from Chapter 11 protection.

Even after that, travellers on American and US Airways won't notice immediate changes. It likely will be months before the frequent-flier programs are combined and years before the two airlines are fully integrated.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 15, 2013 B11

Factual inaccuracy? Something missing? Help improve our journalism.

Know about news? Share your story suggestions, photos and video.

Spelling error? Punctuation problem? Send us an email if you’ve found a typo.

More Business

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.