Reuters: Bankruptcy News: UPDATE 1-Unionized American Airlines, US Airways workers rally for merger

Reuters: Bankruptcy News Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Retargeting on Facebook? Get more sales and conversions with Facebook retargeting. Try it free for 14 days. Set up takes just minutes! From our sponsors

UPDATE 1-Unionized American Airlines, US Airways workers rally for merger Sep 18th 2013, 19:52 Wed Sep 18, 2013 3:52pm EDT By Diane Bartz WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Union members who work for American Airlines and US Airways Group rallied on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, urging the U.S. Justice Department to drop its opposition to a planned merger between the two airlines. The rally by pilots, flight attendants, baggage handlers and others also attracted a handful of the 300 lawmakers that the union representatives are meeting with this week in hopes of building support for the deal. The Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Aug. 13 to stop the planned merger between US Airways and American's parent, AMR Corp. The government argues it would violate antitrust laws because it would lead to higher airfares and other fees. A judge will hear the case without a jury in November and decide whether the deal can go forward. Representative Ed Pastor, a Democrat from Arizona, where US Airways is headquartered, said he was surprised that the Justice Department wanted to stop the deal after allowing other large airline mergers in recent years. Delta Air Lines acquired Northwest Airlines in 2008, United merged with Continental in 2010 and Southwest Airlines bought discount rival AirTran in 2011. Without the planned deal between American and US Airways, "competition will be stifled and the stability that we want in the airline industry will be taken away," Pastor said. Pilots attending the rally made similar points, with one saying that the Justice Department allowed other airline mergers "without a whimper." "All of a sudden they're trying to stop this," said Jim Sgueglia, 55, who said he has been flying for US Airways for 26 years. Seth Bloom, an antitrust expert formerly with the department and now in private practice, said the rally would likely have no effect on its views. The merger is a critical piece in American's future plans. The company declared bankruptcy in 2011, and a bankruptcy judge approved its plan to emerge from bankruptcy that was centered on the deal with US Airways. The airlines and the Justice Department could settle the antitrust lawsuit, which would likely require the companies to sell assets. Any such divestitures would require the bankruptcy judge's approval. AMR shareholders, who stand to receive a 3.5 percent stake in the merged entity, would likely be wiped out under any plan other than a merger, experts say. Most of AMR's key creditors, including the unionized workers, support the tie-up. The airlines themselves have defended the proposed deal by arguing in court filings that it would create $500 million in savings to consumers annually by building a stronger competitor to Delta and United. In its complaint, the Justice Department focused on Ronald Reagan National Airport, just outside Washington, D.C., where the two companies control a combined 69 percent of takeoff and landing slots. It also listed more than 1,000 routes between two cities where the two airlines dominate the market. The case at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is No. 1:13-cv-12346. Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions