FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Airlines thanks the men and women of UNITE the Union, Branch LE/2005, for voicing their support of American's efforts to provide competitive choices for transatlantic air travel for consumers on both sides of the Atlantic through approval of a third immunized airline alliance.

Citing concerns of a growing duopoly between already immunized Star and SkyTeam alliances, the branch of UNITE called on European Union Competition Commissioner Nellie Kroes to support American and its oneworld® Alliance members' bid for antitrust immunity, calling it a "vital necessity" for American, oneworld and more choices for European consumers.

In addition to the support expressed today by the workers of UNITE the Union, Branch LE/2005, the Transport Workers Union of America, Air Transport Division - which represents 26,000 workers at American and its subsidiary American Eagle - sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and members of Congress urging them to approve American's antitrust immunity application.

American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia Airlines antitrust immunity proposal has also received the backing of 28 U.S. Senators, 135 U.S. Representatives, 40 Governors, 109 Mayors and 131 airports from around the nation. In total, more than 3,300 letters of support for the application have been written, including letters from 615 travel related organizations; 324 economic, education and not-for-profit organizations; and 442 corporations, small business and for-profit organizations.

American remains optimistic that both the EU Commission and the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) will conduct a thorough assessment of its application and ultimately conclude that it will improve competition and benefit customers. This agreement is designed to encourage growth and increase revenues so all the participating airlines and airline employees will benefit. It will also offer customers access to an expanded network with seamless service around the globe.

The Joint Business Agreement is expected to help American generate needed additional revenue that will enhance its ability to invest in improved products and services for its customers and to continue to provide great jobs for its employees. It is important to remember that the proposed Joint Business Agreement with British Airways and Iberia is based on a revenue-sharing arrangement, which means the only way an airline gets to share in the revenues is to fly. As a result, the more AA flies, the more revenue it would receive. The less AA flies, the less revenue it would receive.

The financial benefits created by the agreement and antitrust immunity will allow American to be much more competitive on corporate contracts, offer consumers greater access to discounted fares and routing choices, and improve opportunities for growth - all of which is expected to lead to additional revenue.

With the expansion and strengthening of Star and SkyTeam alliances, American and its fellow applicants believe that oneworld needs antitrust immunity to compete on a level playing field. The company believes its plans for a joint business agreement with Iberia and British Airways will allow oneworld to compete on equal footing, which will benefit customers, communities, shareholders and employees. The companies' application for antitrust immunity is pending with the DOT, and they continue to discuss the benefits of their plans with regulators in the European Union.

Editor's note: Contact AA Corporate Communications for a copy of the letter submitted by the branch of UNITE.

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection® serve 250 cities in 40 countries with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve nearly 700 destinations in more than 130 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR)

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SOURCE American Airlines

Corporate Communications of American Airlines, +1-817-967-1577, mediarelations@aa.com