With the announcement that SkyWest will be using the American Eagle brand when it begins flying regional flights out of Los Angeles and Dallas/Fort Worth, it appears that AMR has made some branding decisions.
And that means no more American Connection.
According to a memo sent to American Eagle managers, AMR has decided that American Eagle will be the common brand name for all of American Airlines' regional flying, regardless of who is operating the flight.
The memo added that the American Connection brand will eventually be phased out.
American Connection isn't that familiar to DFW travelers but if you fly out of Chicago O'Hare, aircraft with that brand take-off over 50 times a day. American uses the American Connection brand on planes operated by Chautauqua Airlines.
Keep reading for the full memo.
For All AE Managers
Subject: American Announces Plan to Diversify its Regional Feed
Summary
American Airlines today announced the addition of two new regional carriers to its network – SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines. These companies were awarded contracts as the successful bidders in the RFP process American initiated earlier this year. American has awarded flying for a total of 23 50-seat regional jets to be operated out of Los Angeles and Dallas/Fort Worth. SkyWest and ExpressJet are wholly owned subsidiaries of SkyWest, Inc. The two carriers will fly under the American Eagle brand.
Key Points
• A Managers Call regarding the changes will occur at 2 p.m. CDT today. A calendar appointment will be sent later this morning.
• Judge Lane’s decision to allow American to abrogate its pilot contract means that it will be relieved of certain scope provisions that only allowed American Eagle to provide regional feed.
• This development is consistent with American’s restructuring plans, which call for the re-fleeting of its regional network and the diversification of its regional feed.
• American Eagle will continue to be the main provider of regional feed for American in Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, and Miami.
Impact at LAX
• SkyWest will fully replace American Eagle’s 44-seat ERJ operations in Los Angeles (LAX) on Nov. 15, 2012.
• SkyWest will operate from the Eagle terminal at LAX using CRJ-200 aircraft, which will serve the same markets the Eagle ERJs currently serve.
• The 11 ERJs currently operating at LAX will be removed and redeployed. Eight of the 11 aircraft will be transferred to MIA to take over for retiring ATR aircraft, two will go to DFW and one will go to the Northeast.
• Eagle’s LAX pilot and flight attendant domiciles will close effective Dec. 1, and we will be reducing the number of M&E, stores and management employees at LAX.
• Eagle will continue to provide regional feed with the CRJ-700 out of LAX, using Eagle’s Chicago-based crews.
• Eagle will continue to provide ground handling for all of American’s operations at LAX, and no reduction in force is expected for LAX fleet service clerks or agents. We don’t anticipate furloughs as a result of the downsizing at LAX, as there are vacancies throughout the rest of the system for employees in all workgroups.
Impact at MIA
• Executive's remaining ATRs based in Miami (MIA) will be retired and returned to the lessor.
• As a result, Executive's MIA pilot and flight attendant domiciles will be closed effective Dec. 1.
• All Executive pilots and flight attendants will be able to use their seniority to bid for positions at Eagle – including positions at MIA.
• Executive's MIA maintenance facility will remain open and convert to Eagle control effective January 1, 2013.
• No reduction in force is currently planned for Executive maintenance employees, fleet service clerks or agents at MIA.
• We anticipate that Eagle will be performing more regional jet flying out of MIA to replace some of the ATR flying.
• All MIA and Key West Executive employees will become Eagle employees as of Jan. 1, 2013.
• We do not foresee any furloughs as a result of the displacement at MIA.
Impact at DFW
• ExpressJet will begin operations in Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) on Feb. 14, 2013.
• Eagle will continue to provide ground handling for all of American's regional operations at DFW.
• We do not anticipate any furloughs because of the ExpressJet flying.
Additional Information
• The SkyWest and ExpressJet aircraft will be branded and operated as American Eagle, a brand that belongs to AMR.
• American Eagle has been selected as the common brand name for all of American’s regional flying, whether operated by Eagle, Executive, SkyWest,
ExpressJet or any other carrier.
• The American Connection brand will eventually be phased out.
• We will continue to be American Eagle Airlines, Inc. operating as American Eagle.
• Despite the introduction of SkyWest and ExpressJet service, Eagle will be hiring additional pilots, flight attendants, agents, fleet service clerks and station management.
• Today, Eagle will announce the recall of all pilots on the furlough list and will begin to hire new pilots soon.
• We have been hiring flight attendants for several months and plan to continue hiring.
• Our ground handling business continues to grow tremendously, driving the need for more people.
• Now, more than ever, it is critical that we successfully complete our restructuring and stay focused on being the best possible partner for American by continuing to deliver outstanding performance and customer service.
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