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Posted Jan 25, 2012
Both Delta Air Lines and US Airways are rumored to be exploring some sort of consolidation with American Airlines. During separate fourth-quarter earnings calls with analysts and media Wednesday, Delta management batted away all questions on the topic, while US Airways CEO Doug Parker confirmed that, yes, the carrier is exploring its options, that nothing is imminent and, although US Airways has long been a proponent of M&A, that the carrier does not "need" to participate in what may or may not be the next round of industry consolidation.
Posted Dec 9, 2011
Chapter 11 evidently won't inhibit American Airlines' direct-connect efforts. It also shouldn't disrupt its legal wrangling with Sabre, according to documents the global distribution provider filed this week with the bankruptcy court.
Posted Nov 22, 2011
Since we hit the send button today on a story in The Beat about a judge dismissing a few of American Airlines' antitrust claims against Travelport, the carrier revised the first statement it issued, co-defendant Sabre shared its take on the ruling and Orbitz announced that motions AA filed against the company have been dismissed.
Posted Oct 21, 2011
We all learned in August that American Express and HRG separately agreed "in principle" to explore American Airlines' direct connect, but further details have been elusive. Comments made during AMR's earnings conference call on Wednesday weren't exactly revealing, but chief commercial officer Virasb Vahidi provided an update of sorts.
Posted Oct 4, 2011
Not many companies had a good Monday on Wall Street, but few had it worse than American Airlines parent AMR Corp., whose tumbling stock price hit an eight-year low and fueled bankruptcy speculation. Despite apparent investor fears, a march to Chapter 11 is unlikely in the near-term, according to airline analysts.
Posted Sept 7, 2011
American Airlines on Wednesday amended its antitrust complaint against Sabre to include a new claim: that the global distribution provider "organized an unlawful group boycott against American."
Posted Aug 12, 2011
Though there are many questions and potential ramifications--known and unknown--on American Airlines' Direct Connect program, travel industry attorney Mark Pestronk said that for travel agencies, "there seems to be no harm" in signing up for it.
Posted Jul 21, 2011
Many don't think so, at least not any time soon. On one hand, you have to offer up kudos to AA for leading the way to personalizing and merchandising their products while pushing for new API/direct connections - it is innovative, others are likely to follow. On the other hand, AA is clearly taking plenty of "heat" from corporate customers, GDSs and other TMCs.
Posted Jul 20, 2011
OK, OK, I know. I said I was going to quit corporate travel and disappear into the mists of travel legend…or something like that. But it is so very hard! I am rather like Frank Sinatra was, or Michel Jordan is, where something happens which triggers off a new reason why the lure of starting again becomes too much.
Posted Jul 7, 2011
I am somewhat amused by suppliers that look at their distribution options and discard what they deem as "higher cost" channels in favor of direct distribution.
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