American Airlines looks to investors, mergers - WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

American Airlines looks to investors, mergers

DALLAS, TX (AP) -- The head of American Airlines says that seven months into a bankruptcy reorganization it's time to consider options, including a merger with another airline.

American and AMR Corp. CEO Thomas Horton said Tuesday that options including a merger "could make the new American even stronger."

US Airways has been pushing hard for a merger with American almost since the day that American and AMR filed for bankruptcy protection in November. Horton has taken a slower approach, saying he preferred to wait until after AMR emerges from bankruptcy protection before considering a merger.

But Horton says that because of improvements in revenue and progress on cost-cutting labor deals, it now makes sense to consider options such as a merger. He says AMR and its creditors will reach out to "interested parties."