American/US Airways Merger Gives Tulsa Employees New Leadership
By KYLE ARNOLD World Staff Writer
American Airlines and U.S. Airways leaders officially announced a merger this morning to create the nation’s largest carrier and give some 7,000 employees in Tulsa new leadership after more than a year of uncertainty and bankruptcy proceedings.
The boards of directors for American parent AMR Corp. and U.S. Airways approved the merger late Wednesday after hammering out a deal that gives executive control to U.S. Airways Doug Parker and gives most of the equity in the company to American Airlines’ creditors.
“The combined airline will have the scale, breadth and capabilities to compete more effectively and profitably in the global marketplace,” Parker said in a statement released Thursday morning. “Our combined network will provide a significantly more attractive offering to customers, ensuring that we are always able to take them where they want to travel, when they want to go.”