October 23, 2013
The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Attorney General
Robert F. Kennedy Building
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Room 5111
Washington, D.C. 20530-2001

Dear Attorney General Holder:
As mayors of some of the largest cities in the United States, we know the airline industry creates jobs, supports local business,
attracts new business, and promotes infrastructure growth. Nowhere are these benefits more apparent than in cities- like
ours- with airline hubs. But the Justice Department’s recent action seeking to block the combination of American Airlines
and US Airways puts those benefits at risk for Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth and
Miami-Dade County. We write to ask you to reconsider this ill-conceived lawsuit.
We support the merger of American and US Airways because it is based on growth which benefits consumers and our
communities. A hub airport is only as good as the route network it supports, and our cities represent hubs throughout the
United States that would benefit from a broader route network. The combination of American Airlines and US Airways
creates a better network than either carrier could build on its own. American’s substantial operations throughout the central
United States provide critical coverage where US Airways is underdeveloped. US Airways’ substantial operations throughout
the Northeast do the same for American. Bringing together these complementary operations creates a better network that
will carry more passengers to, from and through Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport,
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
and Miami International Airport. This increase in passenger traffic will multiply the beneficial effects those airports have on
jobs and our local economies.
Without this merger, American and US Airways will be at a permanent competitive disadvantage to Delta and United, each
of which has been allowed to build superior route networks through mergers that were cleared by the Justice Department,
the latter under your watch. The long-term prospects of American and US Airways will be imperiled. But even worse than
the impact on the merging companies, failure to clear the combination of American Airlines and US Airways will put our
cities at an unnecessary competitive disadvantage to Atlanta, Newark and other hubs that directly benefit from the Delta and
United mergers.
You need not rely solely on our view. You also have another independent verification of the procompetitive benefits of the
American Airlines US Airways merger, and that is the reaction of the companies’ employees, particularly organized labor. The
unions at both airlines share our goal of job growth and our view that procompetitive mergers increase jobs. They also have a
deep understanding of the airline industry’s competitive landscape, aided by the participation of the American unions in the
Unsecured Creditors Committee as part of American’s bankruptcy. Now they have joined together with the companies to
support the new American Airlines. This is unprecedented. Such a constructive approach between employees and management should be applauded by the Administration, not challenged.

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 By attempting to block the proposed combination, the Department has needlessly added to the uncertainty that these
employees and their families must endure and has put jobs at risk.
Our cities rely on the airline industry to support existing businesses, attract new businesses and to keep our local economies
moving forward. The health and well-being of our cities and our citizens depends on this combination moving forward.
For these reasons, we ask you to settle your lawsuit with American Airlines and US Airways and allow the combination to
proceed.
Sincerely,

Patsy Kinsey
Mayor of Charlotte

Michael Nutter
Mayor of Philadelphia

Greg Stanton
Mayor of Phoenix

Rahm Emanuel
Mayor of Chicago

Mike Rawlings
Mayor of Dallas

Betsy Price
Mayor of Fort Worth

Carlos A. Gimenez
Mayor of Miami-Dade County

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