American Airlines Group

In January 2012, US Airways Group, the parent company of US Airways, expressed interest in taking over AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines.[7] In March, AMR's CEO Tom Horton said that the company was open to a merger.[10] US Airways (US) told some American Airlines (AA) creditors that merging the two carriers could yield more than $1.5 billion a year in added revenue and cost savings.[11] On April 20, American Airlines' three unions said they supported a proposed merger between the two airlines.[12] With AMR under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, American Airlines had been looking to merge with another airline. Earlier in July, a bankruptcy court filing stated that US Airways was an American Airlines creditor and "prospective merger partner"; on August 31, US Airways CEO Doug Parker announced that American Airlines and US Airways had signed a nondisclosure agreement, in which they would discuss the possibility of a merger.[13]

In February 2013, American Airlines and US Airways announced plans to merge, creating the largest airline in the world by some measurements. In the deal, which was expected to close in the third quarter of 2013, stakeholders of AMR would own 72% of the company and US Airways shareholders would own the remaining 28%. Rothschild & Co served as the investment bank for the transaction.[14][15] The combined airline carries the American Airlines name and branding. The holding company was renamed American Airlines Group Inc.[16] The US Airways' management team, including CEO Doug Parker, retained most operational management positions. The combination was considered a "merger of equals" between US Airways and American Airlines, retaining the more well-established "American" name going forward.[17] The headquarters for the new airline was also consolidated at American's current headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.[18][19] US Airways exited Star Alliance upon completion of the merger, and American retained its Oneworld alliance. Judge Sean Lane approved the merger on March 27, 2013, but declined to approve a proposed $20 million severance package to AA executive Thomas W. Horton.[20] On July 12, US Airways shareholders approved the proposed merger.[21]

On August 13, 2013, the United States Department of Justice along with attorneys general from the District of Columbia, Arizona (headquarters of US Airways), Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas (headquarters of American Airlines),[22] and Virginia filed a lawsuit seeking to block the merger, arguing that it would mean less competition and higher prices. American Airlines and US Airways both said that they would fight against the lawsuit and defend their merger.[23] In early October 2013, the Attorney General of Texas quit the anti-trust lawsuit.

The Department of Justice reached a settlement of its lawsuit on November 12, 2013. The settlement will require the merged airline to give up landing slots or gates in 7 major airports.[24] Under the deal, the new American is required to sell 104 slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and 34 slots at LaGuardia Airport. An additional requirement is that American sell two gates at O'Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Logan International Airport, Dallas Love Field and Miami International Airport.[25] Some of the slots will be sold to low-cost carriers such as JetBlue and Southwest Airlines.[26]

A private antitrust suit, filed by a group of 40 passengers and travel agents, also sought to block the merger.[27] American's bankruptcy court judge refused to enjoin the two airlines from merging, saying that the group did not demonstrate that the merger would irreparably harm them.[28] The plaintiffs' lawyer appealed and was turned down at the U.S. District Court level and was further rebuffed at the Supreme Court after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg denied a stay request filed by him.[29]

Following the Department of Justice approval, the merged company traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol AAL.[30][31]

On July 13, 2015, American announced that it planned to discontinue the US Airways brand name on October 17, 2015. On October 16, US Airways flew its final flight, US Airways Flight 1939, which was a flight from Philadelphia-Charlotte-Phoenix-San Francisco-Philadelphia.[32]