http://www.thestreet...ont-burner.html
The quote is a closing announcement of progress that comes from a puff piece that paints the AA LCC merger as not only inevitable but also desired by all, and now possible due to Silver's expected ruling.
Some people still have hope that Parker will bargain only for the Nic and immediate implementation thereof, due to some hoped aversion for risk... Hogwash.
Companies are not driven by risk but rather by profits. Risk is merely a theoretical line item of a possible cost. Since Parker claims a 2B$ synergy per year, I don't think he can afford to refuse to bargain with USAPA now that there is no question he must (assuming Silver doesn't change her mind). Refusing to bargain could cost 2B$ but accepting anything other than the Nic has an obscure possibility of a cost to USAPA and an even more remote possibility of cost to Parker. The amount of money he stands to gain, year over year, can easily pay for lawyers to mitigate, no, eliminate, any minute threat raised by dissatisfied pilots. Just look at how long Eastern pilots have been suing, and TWA pilots, etc. etc. ..and those aren't even the wishful hybrid variety that aims with an erratic strategy pointing everywhere.
After all that has transpired since those distant days of yore, and the things that would conceivably transpire from now until a contract is ratified, there is an extremely small risk that anyone could pin the company down for any liability of harm for moving off the Nic and even if someone were to venture a try, the company will have more than enough petty cash to deflect, deny, and defeat.
The Nic risk is like a bumblebee splat on the front wind screen.
