Actually I don't. Who?? Are you talking Majors or Legacies? SWA?

 

Continental didn't

 

Really? You are pulling my leg, right?

Who's the biggest airline NOT in/out of Bankruptcy?

Who competes with AA in Texas?

Who pays their pilots the most?

Who lost their "old" management team who stuck to a tried and true formula, and replaced it with a new cowboy who wants to grow in the biggest recession we've seen since the Depression?

Who's no longer a "Low Cost Carrier" only because all the others filed for bankrupcty to lower their costs?

Who just lost a bunch of money guessing wrong on fuel hedges?

Who still has to complete a costly merger, and bought a whole fleet of airplanes they don't even want, and still has to buy a whole lot more paint and Pizza if they want to operate 20 minute turns in ATL?

Think it Can't happen?

Yeah, so did the AA Pilots a year ago, and the Delta Pilots 10 years ago.

Oh, and about Continental? They've filed Bankruptcy so many times in the past 30 years I've lost count.

 

Not THIS time they didn't... but they have done it twice before.

 

AMR CORP. FILES BANKRUPTCY IN NEW YORK
AMR, HOLDING COMPANY FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES, FILES CHAPTER 11
AMR COPR. LISTS DEBTS OF $29.5 BILLION IN BANKRUPTCY FILING
AMR HAS $4.1B IN CASH
AMR TO START FURTHER TALKS WITH UNION TO CUT LABOR COSTS
*AMR NAMES THOMAS HORTON CHAIRMAN, CEO; GERALD ARPEY TO RETIRE
Full press release:



AMR Corporation ("the Company"), the parent company of American Airlines, Inc. ("American") and AMR Eagle Holding Corporation ("American Eagle"), announced that in order to achieve a cost and debt structure that is industry competitive and thereby assure its long-term viability and ability to continue delivering a world-class travel experience for its customers, the Company and certain of its U.S.-based subsidiaries (including American and American Eagle), today filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

AMR's Board of Directors determined that a Chapter 11 reorganization is in the best interest of the Company and its stakeholders. Just as with the Company's major airline competitors in recent years, the Chapter 11 process enables American Airlines and American Eagle to continue conducting normal business operations while they restructure their debt, costs and other obligations.

American Airlines and American Eagle are operating normal flight schedules today, and their reservations, customer service, AAdvantage® program, Admirals Clubs and all other operations are conducting business as usual. Likewise, throughout the Chapter 11 process, American and American Eagle expect to continue to:

Provide safe and reliable service;

Fly normal schedules;

Honor tickets and reservations, and make exchanges and refunds as usual;

Fully maintain AAdvantage frequent flyer and other customer service programs, and ensure all AAdvantage miles and elites status earned by members remain secure and intact;

Provide Admirals Club access and similar amenities to members and eligible customers;

Remain an integral member of the oneworld® alliance, of which American is a founding member, and continue its codeshare partnerships;

Provide employee wages, healthcare coverage, vacation, and other benefits, without interruption; and

Pay suppliers for goods and services received during the reorganization process.

These filings have no direct legal impact on American's operations outside the United States.

Thomas W. Horton, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of AMR and American Airlines, said, "This was a difficult decision, but it is the necessary and right path for us to take - and take now - to become a more efficient, financially stronger, and competitive airline.

"We have met our challenges head on, taking all possible action to secure our long-term position. In recent years, even as the airline industry faced unprecedented challenges, American strengthened our domestic and global network; fortified our alliances with the best partners around the world; launched a transformational fleet deal that will give American the youngest and most efficient fleet in the industry; and invested in our product, service and technology to build a world class customer experience.

"But as we have made clear with increasing urgency in recent weeks, we must address our cost structure, including labor costs, to enable us to capitalize on these foundational strengths and secure our future. Our very substantial cost disadvantage compared to our larger competitors, all of which restructured their costs and debt through Chapter 11, has become increasingly untenable given the accelerating impact of global economic uncertainty and resulting revenue instability, volatile and rising fuel prices, and intensifying competitive challenges.

"Our Board decided that it was necessary to take this step now to restore the Company's profitability, operating flexibility, and financial strength. We are committed to working as quickly and efficiently as possible to appropriately restructure American so that it can emerge from Chapter 11 well-positioned to assure the Company's long term viability and its ability to compete effectively in the marketplace," Horton stated.

Horton continued, "Throughout the restructuring process, as always, our customers remain our top priority and they can continue to depend on us for the safe, reliable travel and high quality service they know and expect from us. We intend to maintain a strong presence in domestic and international markets, including our cornerstones in Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, Miami and Los Angeles. As we and all airlines routinely do, we will continue to evaluate our operations and service, assuring that our network is as efficient and productive as possible.

"Achieving the competitive cost structure we need remains a key imperative in this process and, as one part of that, we plan to initiate further negotiations with all of our unions to reduce our labor costs to competitive levels."

"American Airlines has a strong, proud history and we will have a successful future. Working through this difficult, but necessary action and process, I am confident we will succeed in enhancing our reputation as a global leader known for excellence and innovation, a travel partner customers seek out, and a carrier that serves communities throughout the world," Horton concluded.

The Company has approximately $4.1 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments. This cash, as well as cash generated from operations, is anticipated to be more than sufficient to assure that its vendors, suppliers and other business partners will be paid timely and in full for goods and services provided during the Chapter 11 process in accordance with customary terms. Because of the Company's current cash position, the need for debtor-in-possession financing is neither considered necessary nor anticipated.

American is filing motions today with the Court seeking interim relief that will ensure the Company's continued ability to conduct normal operations, including the ability to:

Provide employee wages, healthcare coverage, vacation, and other benefits without interruption;

Honor pre-petition obligations to customers and continue customer programs including American's AAdvantage frequent flyer program;

Pay for fuel under existing fuel supply contracts, and honor existing fuel supply, distribution and storage agreements; and

Assume and honor contracts relating to interline agreements with other airlines.

As announced separately today, the Board of Directors of AMR Corporation appointed Horton Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, succeeding Gerard Arpey, who informed the Board of his decision to retire. Horton will also succeed Arpey as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Airlines and will retain the title of President.

AMR's lead counsel is Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and its financial advisor is Rothschild, Inc.

More information about American Airlines Chapter 11 filing is available on the Internet at AA.com/restructuring. Information for suppliers and vendors is available at (866) 736-9011 or (703) 286-2757, or by sending an email to [email protected].

AMR will be filing monthly operating reports with the Bankruptcy Court and also plans to post these monthly operating reports on the Investor Relations section of AA.com. The company will continue to file quarterly and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which will also be available in the Investor Relations section of AA.com.



================================================== ==

Note: Debt was earler listed at 12 Billion, now listed at 29.5 Billion.

 

I was just gonna say....

 

I'm sure Mr. Arpey received a nice severance package. Too bad almost every other employee will be receiving a screwing.

 

Best of luck fellas. You all have a proud history and a strong pilot group. Don't let em tell ya different.

 

Yes I know, but they seemed to be talking about this "time"

 

+ 1

I hope this proud name will soar again.

Best of luck to all at AA.