The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) has also backed management and issued this statement:
The president of the Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, reiterated the union’s commitment to seeing the proposed merger of American Airlines and US Airways through to its fruition.
“Approving the merger is in the best interests of all concerned,” APA President Capt. Keith Wilson said. “We are disappointed that the U.S. Department of Justice has challenged the merger and look forward to the opportunity to highlight the merger’s many benefits.”
The Justice Department, six state attorneys general and the District of Columbia filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today challenging the proposed merger of the two carriers.
“The pilots of American Airlines remain fully committed to merging with US Airways, which will provide for a more secure future for the 100,000 men and women who work for the two airlines,” Wilson said. “As for the notion that the merger would be anti-competitive, the two airlines’ route structures are highly complementary with very little overlap. Combining the two carriers would significantly expand the choice of travel destinations available to consumers.
“Also, the combination of American Airlines and US Airways would create a network carrier comparable to Delta and United in terms of revenue and reach, establishing an important competitive counter balance to those two airlines.
“Consolidation has enabled our industry to stabilize after a round of Chapter 11 bankruptcies that were the result of various exogenous shocks, including terrorist attacks, fuel price spikes and pandemics. It makes no sense for the Justice Department to conclude now that airline industry consolidation is somehow undesirable.”
US Airways’ CEO Doug Parker vows to fight the decision by the DOJ. Now the real negotiations will begin on what AA-US are willing to give up, especially at Washington Reagan National. Read the interview in Forbes: CLICK HERE