VANTAGEPOINT
CHETSNEDDEN
AIRTRAVEL IS
more than justabusiness.Tome, it
ispart of theAmericanpersonality. The freedom
of movement we provide— the ability to cross
vast distances in remarkably short amounts of
time— speaks to our frontier history and to the
sense of adventure and love of exploration that
areembedded inour country’s collectiveDNA.
As many of you know, a few weeks ago
American Airlines and US Airways announced
plans tomerge— to createAmerica’s flag carrier,
thenewAmericanAirlines.Thismerger represents
thenextbigstep in theongoing transformationof
our company,whichamongother things includes
themostdramatic fleetupgrade inour longhistory,
a thoroughmodernizationof the travel experience
and the refreshingof our iconicbrand.
Let me tell you a little bit about what this
merger will mean to you. First, and perhaps
foremost, the combination of American and
US Airways will create the airline industry’s big-
gestandbestglobal network,with roughly6,700
daily flights to 336 cities in 56 countries around
theworld. In the United States, wewill offer an
unmatched levelofconnectivityandchoice, as the
USAirways hubs inPhiladelphia; Charlotte, N.C.;
andPhoenixcombinewithAmerican’s formidable
presence in the key markets of New York, Los
Angeles, Dallas/FortWorth, Chicago andMiami.
Internationally, themergerwill further strengthen
ourserviceacrossboth theAtlanticand thePacific,
while bolstering our industry-leading position in
LatinAmerica and theCaribbean. Andof course,
the merger will only strengthen
one
world, the
industry’spremier global alliance.
The newAmericanwill not only provide you
withbetter, easier access tomore places around
the world— it will also deliver a superior travel
experience.With a rock-solid foundation, wewill
haveample flexibility to invest inoneof themost
modern and efficient fleets in the industry, while
simultaneously investing incutting-edge technol-
ogyand theproductsandservicesyouvaluemost.
Between the twoairlines,wehavemore than600
brand-newaircraft on theway.
The combining of our two companies is obvi-
ouslygreatnews forAAdvantagemembers,who,
once themerger iscompleted,willhaveevenmore
opportunities toearnand redeemmilesacross the
newAmerican network. And those of you who
enjoy the service, comfort and amenities of our
Admirals Clubswill beglad to know that youwill
have access to the network of USAirways clubs
around theworld too.
Sowhathappensnow?Weexpect themerger
to be completed in the third quarter of this year,
and I encourage you to visit aa.com/arriving to
keep upwith our progress. As you can imagine,
the integrationofoneairline intoanother isavery
complex process. Achieving a smooth transition
is going to require months of careful planning,
training and hardwork frompeople indozens of
departments at both carriers. While our plan is
to integrate as quickly as possible, we are com-
mitted togetting it right, and thatwill take some
time.Fornow, it’sbusinessasusual.Americanand
USAirways remain separatecompanies, andyou
can continue to count on us to provide youwith
the excellent service and the safe, reliable travel
experienceyoudeserve.
Amongourmanyotherstrengths, Ibelieve the
newAmericanwill have the best team— across
the board— in the airline industry, and you can
rest assured everymember of that team is go-
ing to beworking and thinking hard to assure a
smooth transition as we create theworld’s lead-
ingairline.
With the merger of American Airlines and
USAirways,weareushering inanewandexciting
era in the long,proudhistoryofourcompany.And
I’m reminded of something Charles Lindbergh—
who, way back in 1926, flew for one of the small
carriers thateventuallymerged to formAmerican
—wrote long ago: “We actually live, today, in our
dream of yesterday, and living in those dreams,
wedreamagain.”
AtAmericanAirlines,wehavebigdreams, and
big plans, for the future— andwe know you do
too. Wherever your dreams are taking you to-
day, I want to thank you for flyingwith us. Have
agreat trip!
TheNewAmerican
THOMASW. HORTON
Chairman&CEO
AmericanAirlines
We’dlovetohearwhatyouthink
about our airlineandour employees.
Pleasewrite tous at
Wanttosignupforemail
notificationof TomHorton’s column
or to seepast columns?Visit
aa.com/americanwayand clickon
“VantagePoint.”
Formore information on themerger, please refer
to the informationunder theheadings “Additional
Information andWhere To Find It” and “Caution-
ary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking State-
ments”onpage74of thismagazine.
8
APRIL 01, 2013
AA.COM/AMERICANWAY
