Posible AA-US merge

[Michael Natale]

Breaks my Heart! Anthing other than bear Tin , red, white and blue and the tradiotional AA symbol on the tail just won't due. Still can't get used to see Continental colors with United on the hull. I've read that the AA symbol is one of the most enduring and recognizable brand symbols of all time. How can you possibly change it?

[Wayne Pierce]

New logo?

[Harold Henderson]

But then again...I never went to business school.

I do happen to know an esteemed AAV leader who all but has his MBA in his hands. Perhaps the distinguished gentleman would spread some elucidation on us?

[Greg Gemelli]

US Airways still hasn't finished the last merger they went through with America West. We'll see though as it's going to get tough for both US and AA to compete with the new DL and UA. I still hear rumors that it's possible that SkyWest will buy American Eagle but I don't think it has any merit.

If US and AA merge I def think they would keep the "American" brand. It's far more valuable and iconic IMO, but thats just me and I don't know anything about running an airline. I do know that the days of defined benefit are over and that it's going to get very expensive for pilots in training to meet the min requirements to get a job at an airline once the new ATP rules become effective in 2013. This is going to hit AA very hard as they have a very senior pilot group with lot of pilots hitting 65 in the next 10yrs. Yes AA also has about 1800 pilots on furlough but most are not coming back. So the potential issues that face AA/US are, competing with the new UA and DL, getting rid of an aging fleet of MD80s and if possible find cost savings and efficiency in the form of a merger...and while doing this trying to figure out where they are going to get pilots to fly their planes at the max rate they can afford at a time when the opportunities for pilots are ripe and they will be in high demand.

Anyway... I think that it's very possible this merger will happen. It may be impossible for AA to remain competitive otherwise. Again...we'll see... It's aviation... The game changes daily