American Airlines, US Airways Merger Creates World's Largest Airline

Turbulent time for American Airlines are coming to an end Monday. American and US Airways are making their merger official December 9.

This comes after a lengthy bankruptcy procedure and a challenge by the Justice Department.

Employees at the Tulsa AA Maintenance Base and Tulsa civic and business leaders held a news conference Monday morning to discuss the merger and what it means for consumers - and for the 6,000 Tulsa area employees.

They said the future looks bright for Tulsa to continue as a main maintenance base for the newly formed company. The merger makes Tulsa the largest maintenance base for the largest airlines in the world.

Economic leaders were concerned about how the merger will affect jobs here in Tulsa. Now they are shifting their focus on attracting more companies to Tulsa's aerospace industry.

A federal bankruptcy judge gave the go ahead November 27 for the merger of American Airlines and US Airways. Monday is the big the day the world's largest airlines will created by the end of the business day.

Under the antitrust settlement, the new airline would give up dozens of take off and landing slots at some major airports that will now go to smaller, low-cost carriers. the new airline 100,000 employees and more than 6,500 daily flights.

12/8/2013 Related Story: American Airlines CEO, Employees To Ring Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Employees of the new American Airlines Group will ring the opening bell for NASDAQ Monday morning to signify the merger of transportation giants American Airlines and US Airways.

The new stock of American Airlines Group Inc. will list as AAL, AALCP on NASDAQ .