KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo, TX: newschannel10.comAMR CEO goes public in case to keep JAL deal

AMR CEO goes public in case to keep JAL deal

Associated Press - November 9, 2009 6:05 PM ET

DALLAS (AP) - The CEO of American Airlines says Japan Airlines would be taking a risk and suffer financially if it breaks ties with American and joins an alliance with Delta Air Lines.

Gerard Arpey says American and its partner airlines "produce hundreds of millions of dollars of value for JAL" and want to strengthen their ties.

Arpey made the comments Monday in Mexico City at a meeting of the oneworld alliance of global airlines, which includes American, British Airways and JAL. Delta belongs to another alliance, SkyTeam, and is trying to lure JAL away from oneworld.

American and Delta have battled over JAL for several weeks, largely in private. Arpey's remarks elevated the fight by marking the most detailed public comments by either CEO.

Delta declined comment.

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