Interesting. I wonder if this is the beginning of 'downsizing' the combined airline, similar to what UA did with CLE a few years after the merger. I wonder what the combined airline's visualized hubs are. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up as: LAX, DFW, MIA, CLT, PHL, with ORD and DCA becoming smaller "mini-hubs". Basically, say "so long" to JFK and PHX, I guess, except for the JFK-LAX/SFO flagship transcons. PHX perhaps to stay as a southwestern focus city?
Or, would AA want to keep its pmAA cornerstone hubs and bid pmUS hubs farewell? I kind of get a feeling that the AA of today would more prefer their pmUS hubs, though, especially as pmUS management is running the show.