Both Say They Look Forward To Moving Ahead In A Combined Company

The pilots flying for American Eagle and flight attendants working on US Airways airplanes both have expressed optimism about the future of the combined airlines.

In a statement released Thursday, the American Eagle Pilots Master Executive Council, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), said “Although it is far too early to tell how this merger will ultimately affect the regional carriers that support American Airlines and US Airways, the pilots of American Eagle - a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines - are looking forward to the opportunity to better serve the flying public in cooperation with the merged carrier.

"We have a strong history of working through challenging situations and coming to mutually beneficial agreements with our senior management—as we did in our recent bankruptcy negotiations that provided extensive cost-savings and greater efficiencies to AMR.

"We are committed to protecting our pilots’ futures and the long-term success of both American Eagle and our parent company. We look forward to working with the new management team as well as finalizing arrangements to fulfill our fleet plan to provide regional flying as part of the new American Airlines network.”

Similarly sentiments were expressed in a statement released by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), which represents FAs working for US Airways. "The merger between US Airways and American Airlines holds great opportunities for flight attendants," the statement said. "We will raise the bar for our profession and we look forward to working as key partners.

"US Airways flight attendants have been instrumental in the overall success of our airline. Our hard work and sacrifices have helped turn US Airways into the thriving airline it is today.

"As full partners in the world's largest airline, we expect meaningful participation in its benefits. We look forward to working with our colleagues at American in improving wages, benefits, work rules and retirement security for all flight attendants at the new American."

The Ad-Hoc Committee representing bondholders of AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, Inc., also issued a statement regarding the announced merger of American Airlines and US Airways Group, Inc.:

"We are pleased that American Airlines and US Airways have agreed to combine in a transaction that will result in significant value for stakeholders of both companies, including bondholders of AMR. This merger is the best outcome for AMR's restructuring, providing AMR stakeholders with enhanced recoveries," the statement said. "We are pleased that the Ad Hoc Committee, along with certain other large bondholders, have been able to reach an agreement with AMR regarding a fair and appropriate allocation of value among AMR stakeholders and believe that such agreement will avoid significant litigation that might otherwise jeopardize consummation of the merger.

"We acknowledge the efforts of Tom Horton and the American Airlines Board of Directors and management team, as well as the work of Doug Parker and the US Airways Board and management team, who have worked extremely hard for more than a year to make this transaction possible and AMR's restructuring a success.  Gerard Uzzi and Tom Janson of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP and Eric Siegert of Houlihan Lokey represent the Ad Hoc Committee.  Seabury Group and Amy Caton of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP represent Bank of New York Mellon and Law Debenture as indenture trustees in connection with the negotiations."

FMI: www.alpa.org, www.afacwa.org, www.aa.com/newamerican