American Airlines Group subsidiary American Eagle Airlines Inc., which is about to become ‘Envoy’ later this year, is further distancing itself from the parent company.
Literally.
American Eagle is moving its headquarters from seven different offices at or near American Airlines’ hub at Dallas-Fort Worth airport to two buildings in suburban Irving, Texas later this year. American Eagle expects to have more than 600 workers transfer to the new HQ in Irving by July.
Not only will that help American Eagle when it re-brands itself Envoy later this year, but it physically helps American Airlines with more office space at DFW as it begins to transition key employees from US Airways’ hub in Phoenix to Dallas. The two airlines merged last year.
American Airlines is at an impasse with American Eagle pilots, leading to some speculation that American would sell American Eagle, or that American Eagle would dismantle. American Eagle CEO Pedro Fábregas shot down both rumors at a press conference this week.
The CEO did admit, however, that American Eagle is losing 40 to 44 pilots a month and is only able to bring in about 20 at a time to replace them. Its current pilots rejected the latest contract proposal last month by an overwhelming margin when they refused a wage freeze and higher healthcare costs.
American Airlines is withholding new 76-seat jets slated for American Eagle in lieu of a new contract with those concessions.
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