According to various industry reports, US Airways and American Airlines have reached a decision to merge, with a formal announcement expected on Thursday.
Reported in the Washington Post and USA Today among other publications, details indicate that the governing boards of both airlines have voted separately to accept the merger. Industry analysts apparently see the business marriage as a good fit, with US Airways’ strength in the Eastern U.S. meshing well with Americans’ Western U.S. and international presence.
The merger still needs to pass a handful of steps, including:
- Approval by American’s bankruptcy judge in New York;
- Approval from US Airways shareholders; and
- A review by the Justice Department’s antitrust division.
Following an expected approval process the four leading U.S. airlines would command almost 70 percent of the domestic air travel market. The merger would also reportedly create the world’s largest airline based upon both passengers and revenue.
