With merger completed, new American Airlines takes flight

With merger completed, new American Airlines takes flight

American Airlines officially completed its merger process on Monday.

The $17.7 billion merger between Fort Worth-based AMR Corp. and US Airways Group Inc. was completed Monday, officially launching the new company American Airlines Group Inc.

The new American will trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. Officials with the company rang the bell on the Nasdaq early Monday to note the creation of the new airline.

The new American Airlines will be the world's largest airline in terms of airplanes and airports served. It will have more than 6,700 daily flights and operate in more than 50 countries.

The new company will have more than 100,000 employees worldwide.

"Our people, our customers and the communities we serve around the world have been anticipating the arrival of the new American," American Airlines CEODoug Parker, said in a statement. "We are taking the best of both US Airways and American Airlines to create a formidable competitor, better positioned to deliver for all of our stakeholders."

Parker said company officials "look forward to integrating our companies quickly and efficiently so the significant benefits of the merger can be realized."

The merger culminates a process that began in November 2011 when AMR filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, weighed down by oppressive debt.

Parker, then CEO of US Airways, almost immediately began pushing for a merger between American and US Airways, believing it would create a powerful airline.

American said it will take roughly 18 to 24 months to complete the process to achieve a Single Operating Certificate and said the customers should continue to do business with the airline from which their travel tickets were bought in the interim.