American Airlines Inc. and its holding company, AMR Corp., employ approximately 81,000 people and, as of its most recent yearly report, brought in $25 billion in revenue. Even so, chronic financial problems forced the company to seek bankruptcy protection on Nov. 29, 2011. As a result, American is in the midst of a merger with US Airways Group Inc. that is expected to create the world’s largest airline; general counsel Gary Kennedy said he expects the carriers to be fully integrated by the third quarter of this year. The $11 billion deal was announced on Feb. 14.
In the meantime, US Airways President Scott Kirby and American’s chief restructuring officer, Bev Goulet, are leading the team integrating the airlines’ routes, planes and other assets. The combined operation will be called American Airlines, will be based in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to operate regional hubs in six cities.
