American Airlines merges with US Airways in $11 billion deal

Client(s) American Airlines, Inc.

Jones Day represented American Airlines in the antitrust investigation and federal court challenge to its $11 billion merger with US Airways, which closed after the Department of Justice and State attorneys general agreed to settle their lawsuit that sought to block the deal. The airlines agreed to divest to other airlines certain slots and gates at seven U.S. airports, including Washington Reagan and New York LaGuardia, after closing. The merger created the world's largest air carrier, operating as "American Airlines" and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

Jones Day also defended American Airlines in a private action by consumers seeking to enjoin the merger. The private plaintiffs' efforts to prevent the merger were rebuffed by the Supreme Court two days before the scheduled closing of the transaction. The transaction was reviewed by antitrust authorities in the United States and other jurisdictions and approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

U.S. v. US Airways Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:13-cv-01236 (D.D.C.)