By Andrea Ahles, McClatchy Newspapers –
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines’ three largest unions announced Friday that they will support a potential takeover bid by US Airways Group Inc., posing another challenge for the Fort Worth-based airline as it tries to restructure in bankruptcy court.
The Allied Pilots Association, Association of Professional Flight Attendants and Transport Workers Union said they have also reached agreements on term sheets for collective bargaining agreements that would govern American employees in the event of a merger with the Arizona-based carrier.
The merged carrier would be called American Airlines and headquartered in Fort Worth at the Centreport complex where AMR Corp., American’s parent company, currently has its main offices, the Allied Pilots Association said.
“As envisioned, a merger of US Airways and American Airlines provides the best path for all constituencies, including employees of both American Airlines and US Airways,” the three unions said in a joint statement. “The contemplated merger would be based on growth, preserve at least 6,200 American Airlines jobs that would be furloughed under the company’s standalone strategy, and provide employees of both American and US Airways with competitive, industry-standard compensation and benefits.
“Over the long term, the combined new airline would support greater job security and advancement opportunities for both American Airlines’ and US Airways’ employees that are far superior to those available to employees at either airline on a stand-alone basis.”
In a letter sent to employees Friday, Doug Parker, chief executive at US Airways, called the agreement with the American unions “an important first step” towards a merger.
“Combining American Airlines and US Airways would create a pre-eminent airline with the enhanced scale and breadth required to compete more effectively and profitably,” he said.
“Our intention would be to put our two complementary networks together, maintaining both airlines’ existing hubs and aircraft, and create an airline that could compete successfully with United, Delta and other carriers within our industry.”
The news comes before the start of a Section 1113 hearing Monday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, where the company’s attorneys will try to persuade a judge to terminate the union contracts.
The unions have been in talks since February with American executives about $1.25 billion in proposed employee-related cuts, which include more than 14,000 layoffs, mostly of union members.
The airline maintains that the cost-cutting is necessary to fix its finances and allow it to compete with lower-cost competitors.
American spokesman Bruce Hicks said the agreement between the union and US Airways is “no coincidence given the timing of the 1113 process.”
“These statements do not in any way alter the company’s commitment to pursue our business plan or our focus on moving steadily through the court supervised restructuring process to create a profitable, growing industry leader,” Hicks said.
On Thursday, Fort Worth-based American reported a $1.7 billion first-quarter loss, mainly from restructuring costs related to bankruptcy. Excluding the one-time write-offs, the airline said it had a net loss of less than $300 million, smaller than the $436 million loss in the first quarter of 2011.
In a letter to employees discussing the first-quarter report, CEO Tom Horton addressed takeover rumors that have swirled around Wall Street and in the news media in recent weeks.
Without specifically naming US Airways, Delta Air Lines or private-equity firm TPG — all of which have been named as possible bidders for AMR — Horton said he believes that the best outcome for American is to restructure quickly and on its own.
“As you know, there continues to be much takeover speculation in the press fueled by those who seek to serve their own agendas, including the circulation of misleading information. I expect this to continue and to escalate,” Horton said. “Naturally, there are many who do not want American to succeed. Surprisingly, our competitors have even been encouraged by a few within our own ranks.”
The transport workers and flight attendants unions plan to protest Monday on the steps of the New York courthouse where American will be making its arguments.
