Dreamers everywhere but in this thread majority are...

The interesting thing, maybe, is some US FAs are gossiping about the same thing: Doug Parker's plans for AA-US. But gossip and rumors run at high volume at these times.

As friendly as flight attendants can be, they won't be the first ones alerted if a transaction is to occur. But galley gossip continues unabated.

A recent example of galley gossip that the FA union had to debunk:

http://www.apfa.org/content/category/9/17/46/

From the April 5, 2012 Weekly Hotline of the APFA:

Actually the US FA contract rejection probably is not an impediment to Doug Parker. He currently is operating 2 carriers under a single brand and marketing and then coordinating scheduling and partners across the two carriers. Why would he find operating 3 carriers (HP, US, & AA) under the AA brand problematic? To a rational person that might seem like a circus act, but that doesn't mean he isn't crazy enough do it or creditors spooked enough to approve it. Even if AA isn't able to lower its costs, he would get what he wants - the AA network along with the newer aircraft. He would transfer flying to HP and US, while reducing flying by legacy AA crews. He will discard the MD-80s as part of the acquisition, dump current AA management, and gradually downsize the number of AA rank and file. I suspect that the rhetoric between AA management and the rank and file is such that unsecured creditors may assume that labor contracts that both parties can agree to won't happen and without US, the only other option is an Eastern / Braniff style dismantling breakup. Never confuse logic and business ;)

I would second this. No matter which side of the fence you stand on the unions at AA are going to be neutered either by the Court or under pressure to go along with management under threat of much harsher measurers put into place by the Court. Look at all of the huffing and puffing that went on by unions with the other carriers in Chapter 11, all of which mounted to less than a hill of beans.

Most creditors are looking at the situation as to will a much larger airline with a more robust route structure benefit me more than a smaller airline still hobbled by two larger competitors. Its not to say that they will not discuss and consider implications of labor unrest but having a bunch of happy pappy FAs is probably not very high on their list.

USAir needs AA more than AA needs USAir and Parker appears to be dying to do a merger (he has tried to dance with just about everyone else.) If he can make a compelling argument to creditors he has a very good shot at doing something. There will likely be no shortage of parties willing to line his pockets with funding.

The counteraction could be DL to make a run for AA, assuming DL has a somewhat credible strategy of getting around antitrust concerns without gutting itself.

With the anti-trust issues, DL would only succeed by buying parts and spinning the rest off to someone else. For example DL might want to do a joint deal with US. DL would pickup the ORD hub along with some 737s and US would take the rest. DL would move ahead of UA in the "mine is bigger than yours" game they are playing. US would still benefit massively with the MIA, DFW, and LAX hubs. Other than some scenario like this where DL buys components of AA, the anti-trust issues would stop DL dead in its tracks.

The additional problem would be that any sizable break up of assets/operations makes it much harder for creditors to determine if they are better off than leaving AA emerge as a standalone operation. Creditors are going to want a very concise plan without having dozens and dozens of offshoots. Any prospective acquisition needs to past muster with creditors even before the government gets involved.

If AA has little use for USAir, why would AA's creditors?

Because it would be a larger airline but yet able to scale down to the point a potentially making it a more profitable airline. It would give AA a larger European presence along with more command of the East Coast.

Now an AA with lower costs would probably be able to eventually build a greater route structure to Europe but that could take several years at least. It would also enhance AA's operations at DCA which has recently granted removing some of its perimeter restrictions.

Us hostile takeover bid
 

This is a newsroom leak: US Airways is about to move on a hostile takeover of American Airlines.

Can't say any more.

Isn't there some stipulation within the bankruptcy that AA can't entertain offers until after September?

I remember reading that Sen. Hutchinson came out specifically against the possibility of merging AA with another carrier. I don't think the political powers that be would let that occur, regardless of US Air's purported working with Union reps/creditors.

This would seem to be contrary to your "newsroom leak":

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/a...ors-commi.html