American Airlines and USAir merged a year ago this week, forming the world’s largest airline, even though it’s not quite operating like one. Passengers still book on two different systems, and sometimes use different customer service reps…but the year ahead will see the end of that.
In its first year, the combined airline made money, avoided the big bumps that other mergers, especially United have hit, and just committed to another $2 billion investment in new seats and cabins and more new planes.
But two big steps lie ahead (aside from completing the last merged union contract with flight attendants). They are the combining of the two frequent flier programs in the second quarter of 2015…shouldn’t be a big deal…and the combination of computer systems, route networks and more in the third quarter. That will be the big test. MORE
Update: American and the flight attendants have just settled the contract through arbitration. A number of other contracts must be reached in the coming year.
I guess the question for me is the merger good for consumers? From my own searches, I haven’t seen as many good sales on the USAir old routes that I used to see.