Show Thumbnails
Show Captions



If American cannot grow by merging, it could decide to add flights to better compete with larger rivals. Doing so would likely reduce airfares - and profit margins - across the industry, an outcome that many airline investors fear.

MORE: American, US Airways attorneys ready for merger fight
PHOTOS: Boeing's 777-300ER flies for American
MORE : Justice fallout: No immediate changes for AA, US Airways fliers

American has faded to a distant third and is particularly weak along the East Coast. US Airways is No. 5 among U.S. carriers, lacks strength in the middle of the country and doesn't even fly to Asia. But put them together under the American Airlines name, and you've got the biggest airline in the world.

Size helps airlines land important corporate-travel accounts - business passengers will pay higher fares for a carrier that gets them where they want to go.

That's why American and US Airways are vowing to fight the U.S. Justice Department's lawsuit to block their merger.

"If this merger does not take place, US Air will continue to have the gaps and weaknesses in its network that it has now, and American will continue to have the gaps and weaknesses in its network," said Joe Sims, an antitrust lawyer hired by American. "Neither individually will be as effective a competitor to United and Delta and Southwest and all the smaller low-cost carriers."

Airline profits have improved in recent years as mergers eliminated several major airlines and the survivors limited the supply of airplane seats, driving up fares. Many analysts think that if American remains independent, it will pursue a rapid-growth strategy - that was CEO Tom Horton's plan before the merger. Wall Street didn't like it.

If American tries to grow to catch up to United and Delta, "the industry's longer-term earnings prospects are jeopardized," J.P. Morgan analyst Jamie Baker wrote in a note to clients. Fitch Ratings said the government's move against the merger could mean the end of airline consolidation, making the lawsuit a negative for the industry's credit ratings.



"We were surprised that the (lawsuit) wasn't stronger," said one of the lawyers, Paul Denis. "We usually expect the government to put on a better case."

PHOTOS: The new look of American Airlines

Justice Department spokeswoman Gina Talamona declined to address the lawyers' specific comments but defended the lawsuit. "We allege that the deal will lessen competition, and passengers will pay higher fares and receive less service," she said.

If the airlines win, the lawsuit will be just a speed bump in the merger plan. Or they could negotiate a settlement with the Justice Department - maybe by giving up coveted takeoff and landing slots at crowded Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C.

But if the merger gets scuttled, American and US Airways will remain far behind United and Delta - which grew through regulator-approved mergers in the last five years - and without any way to grow quickly.





Some departing American managers might have to pull their resumes off job websites, but they haven't left yet - they are due to get severance deals if they stay until the merger is completed.


Show Thumbnails
Show Captions


Read or Share this story: