AMR-US Airways merger advances with creditor OK
FORT WORTH, Texas » Creditors have overwhelmingly approved the bankruptcy reorganization plan for American Airlines parent AMR Corp., which includes a merger with US Airways that would create the world’s biggest airline.
AMR said last week that preliminary results show that at least 88 percent of the ballots cast by creditors favored the turnaround plan. AMR shareholders backed the plan even more strongly, with more than 99 percent of shares cast in favor, the company said.
The plan still needs approval from a federal bankruptcy judge in New York, who has scheduled a confirmation hearing for Aug. 15. Antitrust regulators in the U.S. Department of Justice are also reviewing the merger with US Airways.
Since filing for Chapter 11 protection in November 2011, AMR has cut labor costs by about one-fifth and ordered hundreds of new planes to update American’s fleet. AMR expects to close the merger with US Airways and exit bankruptcy by the end of September.
The final results from the creditors’ vote must be filed with the bankruptcy court before Aug. 15.
"This is another important milestone toward our launch of the new American," AMR CEO Tom Horton said in a statement. "The overwhelming support for our plan of reorganization is a testament to the resilience and hard work of the entire American team."
AMR lost more than $10 billion after 2000 as the airline industry was buffeted by the 9/11 terror attacks, recessions that curbed travel demand, and spikes in jet fuel prices. AMR tried to return to profitability by extracting cost-cutting contracts from labor unions in 2003, but that failed. Rivals United, Delta and US Airways went through bankruptcy and emerged with lower costs than American, and United and Delta used acquisitions to surpass American in size.
Total recall
WASHINGTON » The Food and Drug Administration is warning patients with diabetes about the recall of 62 million glucose test strips used to measure blood sugar levels.
Nova Diabetes Care announced the recall after discovering that some of the strips can show incorrect, abnormally high blood sugar readings. An incorrect reading could potentially lead to dangerous medication errors for patients.
The strips covered by the recall are marketed under the brand names Nova Max Blood Glucose Test Strips and Nova Max Plus Glucose Meter Kits.
The FDA says the strips are contaminated with a chemical used in the manufacturing process, which interferes with readings.
Visit www.novacares.com/news/nova-max-recall.php Opens in a new tab or contact Nova Diabetes Care customer service at 800-681-7390.
