Oklahoma delegation meets with American Airlines in an effort to keep maintenance base in Tulsa

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- State officials who met with American Airlines' chief executive Gerard Arpey say they had a productive meeting. <br><br>Governor Brad Henry and three other officials left Tulsa

Monday, June 23rd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- State officials who met with American Airlines' chief executive Gerard Arpey say they had a productive meeting.

Governor Brad Henry and three other officials left Tulsa Monday afternoon for a meeting in Fort Worth with Arpey to discuss what American needs to preserve its maintenance base and more than eight-thousand jobs in Tulsa.

Henry's spokeswoman Kym Koch says Oklahoma's support could include economic incentives, but she didn't elaborate.

Henry says an economic package is substantive and narrowly defined.

The airline is believed to be considering consolidation of its three maintenance operations, including the one in Tulsa.

Congressman John Sullivan, Tulsa Mayor Bill LaFortune and University of Oklahoma President David Boren, who is a member of the board of American's parent company, also attended the meeting.