American Airlines and US Airways could agree to merge as soon as early next month, creating the world's largest airline, company and union insiders say.
Unions are quietly negotiating new deals with a combined company, and if they and the airlines can agree on sticky issues such as seniority, a merger could be put on the fast track.
The board of directors of American's parent company, AMR Corp., has scheduled a meeting Jan. 9 and could vote on a merger then, NBC 5 has learned.
People involved in the process stressed that many difficult details still must be ironed out before a merger vote can take place.
Company and union officials did not want to be quoted by name because of the sensitivity of the ongoing discussions.
The judge in charge of American's bankruptcy and the influential committee of creditors also would have to sign off on a deal.
Leaders of the Allied Pilots Association have huddled in their Fort Worth headquarters since last week. One union official said the APA is "not close" to an agreement but talks are expected to continue Friday and into the weekend.
American's three major unions -- representing pilots, flight attendants, and ground workers -- have already signed new labor agreements with the bankrupt airline. The talks now under way essentially involve new contracts with a merged company.
Combining workforces is full of potential pitfalls for each company. US Airways has not successfully combined labor groups since it merged with America West seven years ago. A merger with American could allow it to solve its current labor issues all at once -- or merely add to their complexity.
A merger would likely mean thousands of American employees would be pushed lower on the seniority list, but the value of a new deal could be a huge incentive. American pilots, for example, could add $100 million per year to their overall compensation, union insiders say.
APA President Keith Wilson sent a letter to pilots Thursday evening, saying if the union does not agree to a new plan, there would likely not be a merger until after American exits bankruptcy.
Wilson acknowledged support for a merger is not unanimous among union leaders or airline executives.
"AMR management has not embraced the concept of expediting a merger before restructuring concludes and clearly wants to retain control of the corporation," he wrote.
Wilson also argued that an agreement on seniority before a possible merger should not be a requirement.
"No legal mechanism exists that would allow union-represented employees to interfere with a major transaction such as a merger," he said.
It's unclear who would lead a combined airline. But analysts say a merger would likely push out American's top executive, Tom Horton, who has led the airline since it declared bankruptcy last November.
US Airways' executives have said if they win control, they would use American's brand name and keep its headquarters in Fort Worth.
NBC 5's Ray Villeda contributed to this report.
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