10.03.13 – (LAA) – AA Flight Attendants Demand Virginia Att’y General Withdraw from Merger Suit

Media Contacts: Leslie Mayo 
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858.859.2732

Anthony DeMaio
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508.400.2778

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (October 3, 2013) – In the wake of Tuesday’s announcement by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott that he would withdraw from the lawsuit to block the merger of American Airlines and US Airways, the flight attendants at American are calling on Ken Cuccinelli to do the same.
 
“Anyone standing in the way of the merger is also standing in the way of hard-working Virginians. Ken Cuccinelli is trying to kill this deal at the expense of thousands of airline workers in his state,” said APFA President Laura Glading. “The antitrust suit is wrong both as a matter of fact and a matter of policy and I’m not sure why he joined it in the first place. I’m sure that if he had he discussed it with employees beforehand and given it more careful consideration he would have arrived at a different decision. On behalf of Virginia’s flight attendants and their families, I’m calling on General Cuccinelli to rectify his mistake.”

Unable to compete with United and Delta, which had recently merged with Continental and Northwest, respectively, American Airlines was forced into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November of 2011. It was clear that in order for American to be competitive, it needed to merge with US Airways. The merger plan has had the strong support of employees at both companies since its inception. Unfortunately, the US Department of Justice and attorneys general from seven states and the District of Columbia filed an eleventh-hour lawsuit to block the merger in August of this year.
 
The new American Airlines will offer consumers more destinations and a better product. It will also give flyers a third choice – in addition to Delta and United – for their travel needs. The merger will also provide job security for approximately 100,000 employees nationwide, many of whom live in Virginia.
 
“There are thousands of Virginians depending on this merger. For them, finalizing the deal could mean the difference between good middle class job security and layoffs,” Glading said. “General Cuccinelli should welcome the new American, not stand in the way.”