American Airlines Employees Attend Free Circus Event In Tulsa

After a week of ups and downs for American Airlines, the real high-flying drama happened Saturday. The company invited employees and their families to a free circus in Tulsa after its parent company filed for bankruptcy.

Saturday, December 3rd 2011, 9:40 pm

By: News On 6


After a week of ups and downs for American Airlines, the real high-flying drama happened Saturday. The company invited employees and their families to a free circus in Tulsa after its parent company just filed for bankruptcy.

From acrobatics and antics to elephants and elegance, this circus is a welcomed distraction for American Airlines employees.

"We get bombarded just like everyone else with this kind of news or that kind of news, but it's about the spirit of everybody and we want the children to have a great time," said Steve Speers with the airline's employee association.

The show was made possible by the Transport Workers Union and the American Airlines Employee Association, which was formed in 1946 to improve morale.

"The company is AA, but the heart of it is the employees. They're great people and they donate tons of money to everything," Speers said.

Seven thousand people got a free show ticket, drink and popcorn, including 2,400 people with United Way agencies who couldn't otherwise afford it.

"This is a family event, we do this every year," employee Tim Martindale said.

All the money from the vending machines at the American Airlines maintenance base in Tulsa paid for the circus, which comes just four days after American's bankruptcy filing.

11/29/2011 Related Story: American Airlines Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

"It allows you to get away from that and just to concentrate on family time and this time of the season and just enjoy being together as a family," Martindale said.

Children got to ride the elephants and after the show, took home a stocking stuffed with goodies.

The American Airlines Employee Association also invited all military families to watch the circus for free at a second show this afternoon.

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