Union backs American Airlines antitrust immunity

FORT WORTH, Texas - The union representing flight attendants at American Airlines is supporting the company's bid to win antitrust immunity and work more closely with British Airways and Iberia.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants said Thursday airlines that have forged global alliances have benefited from strong job and revenue growth. That puts the flight attendants at odds with the pilots' union at American, which opposes immunity and says the deal with BA and Iberia will lead to job losses.

The U.S. Transportation Department is expected to rule in the next few days on the request by American, BA, Iberia, Finnair and Royal Jordanian Airlines. If the airlines are granted immunity, they could work together on pricing and scheduling of international service without violating U.S. antitrust laws.

Regulators in Europe are also considering the proposal.

American, part of Fort Worth-based AMR Corp., argues it needs immunity to compete with two other groups of airlines that already have immunity on international routes.

The president of American's flight attendants' union, Laura Glading, said immunity offers the best chance to protect and create jobs at American. A third union at American, the Transport Workers Association, which represents about 25,000 ground workers, endorsed the antitrust immunity bid in June.

All three unions are in stalled contract talks with American. Glading said her group was putting aside frustration over the negotiations because it believes the deal with BA and Iberia "is an important way to create greater security for our members by creating long-term stability for the company."

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