Editorial: AA workers again waiting for resolution
By World's Editorials Writers on Sep 18, 2013, at 2:25 AM Updated on 9/18/13 at 5:37 AM
Editorials
The loss of 12 lives, 13 counting the suspect, in the Navy shipyard shootings Monday is tragic. With each killing spree the natural reaction is to search for the motive or the psychological reason for such a horrific event.
It's taken some time, but Oklahomans have forgiven Woody Guthrie for any real or imagined transgressions.
The 6,300 employees at the American Airlines Maintenance Facility in Tulsa could use some certainty, but they're going to have to wait.
Last week the Manhattan-based judge overseeing the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings for American's parent company, AMR Corp., approved a reorganization plan. Ordinarily, the confirmation step would be cause for celebration. But AMR encountered turbulence Aug. 13. In a case of bad timing, the Department of Justice moved to block the $11 billion merger of American with US Airways Group. Justice Department lawyers claimed the merger, which would create the world's largest airline, was anti-competitive, would cause airline ticket prices to soar and would violate anti-trust laws. A trial is set for November in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
Undaunted, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean H. Lane confirmed the plan, saying that in his three years on the bench he has approved other reorganization plans with regulatory approval pending. Practically speaking, AMR cannot emerge from Chapter 11 protection until the D.C. District Court rules on the Justice Department lawsuit. If AMR wins that lawsuit or settles with the government, the merger could go into effect. It was tentatively planned for December.
High anxiety for American employees began in November 2011, when AMR sought bankruptcy protection. AMR originally intended on exiting bankruptcy as a single, independent airline. Last February, however, it agreed to a merger and anticipated closing a stock-swap with US Airways in August.
The past few years have been rough times for the airline industry. American Airlines workers have made concessions and the airline has undertaken cost-cutting measures.
AMR and US Airways contend that their merger would reduce costs and give fliers more options and offer a counterbalance to rivals, allowed to go through their own mergers.
But AMR remains in a holding pattern. That leaves its employees here and elsewhere doing from the sidelines what they've done for three long years: holding their breath.
Original Print Headline: Holding pattern
Editorials
The loss of 12 lives, 13 counting the suspect, in the Navy shipyard shootings Monday is tragic. With each killing spree the natural reaction is to search for the motive or the psychological reason for such a horrific event.
It's taken some time, but Oklahomans have forgiven Woody Guthrie for any real or imagined transgressions.
