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American Airlines Departure Leaves Behind $Billions in Unclaimed Economic Baggage
Commitment ? What does it mean?
If you?re the largest airline in the free world, it?s your word - at least until it?s no longer convenient to keep it. But if you?re the community saddled with the costs of securing that commitment, it means thousands of lost jobs, $millions in misspent subsidies and forgone tax revenues, and $billions in unrealized economic activity in an area already
suffering a lackluster national economy. It also means a shredded air transportation system for a region needing first class service.
American Airlines ditches it commitment to the Bi-State region on November 1 when it pulls down nearly 75% of its large jet operations.
American Airlines? commitment to our U.S. Senators ? CANCELLED:
The airline assured concerned lawmakers before a US Senate hearing in February 2001, they would maintain good corporate citizenship in St. Louis by sustaining vital hub operations for the benefit of the Bi-State region.
But their idea of good corporate citizenship has far-reaching economic implications for the Bi-State region. American leaves behind a planeload of broken promises to area lawmakers, a stack of unpaid bills for the Big-State regions? taxpayers, and thousand more worked tossed onto the overburdened unemployment rolls.
American Airlines? hasty departure and reduced flight activity:
Jeopardizes a significant portion of the over $5 billion economic impact that the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport has on the region.
Makes the region a less attractive place to do business as companies looking to relocate or expand will bypass the St. Louis area. Local companies will find it harder to conduct business out of state.
Limits the number of single-flight destinations available to business and leisure travelers forcing them to endure less frequent, more expensive service on smaller, slower aircraft. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport originating are forced onto connecting flights at larger hubs like Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago in order to reach current one
stop destinations.
Two thousand additional airline jobs gone by November 1, on top of the more than 5000 local jobs shed by American since October 2001 securing for Missouri the distinction of leading the nation in job loss for a third consecutive year. Those 2000 jobs ?will cost the St. Louis area 47,500 jobs over time according to economist Jan Brueckner of the
University of Illinois.
American Airlines Won?t Leave Empty Handed
They received over $840 million in US taxpayer-funded government relief thanks to The Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act requiring them to maintain scheduled air sever to points served before September 11. 2001.
The Bi-State region pumped tens of millions of taxpayer dollars into American and its predecessor?s Lambert Airport hub over the last decade.
An airport expansion project of nearly $2 billion, undertaken, in large part, to ensure continued operation of the airlines? hub, that required the leveling of hundreds of homes in Bridgeton, MO. and dislocation of thousands of its residents.
Its employees sacrificed over $1.8 billion annually in pay and benefit cuts for the next 5 years (a commitment they can?t back out of) to stave off bankruptcy, sustain operations and prevent facility closures and even greater job loss.
American Airlines has to answer to the Bi-State region:
Two Great Airlines ? One Great Future? was American Airlines? promise when it purchased hometown carrier TWA in 2001. But, for the Bi-State area the reality is Two Great States ? One Enormous Economic Hole.
Residents of the Bi-State region, its businesses, and the airlines? employees deserve better. They?ve kept up their end of the bargain. American Airlines has to explain why it won?t uphold its end of the deal.
They need to start in Washington, D.C. where they first committed to Missouri?s US Senate lawmakers to maintaining the Lambert-St. Louis hub and adequate air service in the region.
If you don?t appreciate being left holding American?s financial baggage, please join the members of the TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION-LOCAL 529 in contacting your Senators in Washington, DC demanding they hold American Airlines accountable for bailing out on the Bi-State region. Ask them to immediately convene investigative hearings into the airlines? actions. Contact your U.S. Congressperson requesting their support for Missouri?s Senators Bond and Talent and Illinois? Senators Fitzgerald and
Durbin in this matter.
American Airlines Departure Leaves Behind $Billions in Unclaimed Economic Baggage
Commitment ? What does it mean?
If you?re the largest airline in the free world, it?s your word - at least until it?s no longer convenient to keep it. But if you?re the community saddled with the costs of securing that commitment, it means thousands of lost jobs, $millions in misspent subsidies and forgone tax revenues, and $billions in unrealized economic activity in an area already
suffering a lackluster national economy. It also means a shredded air transportation system for a region needing first class service.
American Airlines ditches it commitment to the Bi-State region on November 1 when it pulls down nearly 75% of its large jet operations.
American Airlines? commitment to our U.S. Senators ? CANCELLED:
The airline assured concerned lawmakers before a US Senate hearing in February 2001, they would maintain good corporate citizenship in St. Louis by sustaining vital hub operations for the benefit of the Bi-State region.
But their idea of good corporate citizenship has far-reaching economic implications for the Bi-State region. American leaves behind a planeload of broken promises to area lawmakers, a stack of unpaid bills for the Big-State regions? taxpayers, and thousand more worked tossed onto the overburdened unemployment rolls.
American Airlines? hasty departure and reduced flight activity:
Jeopardizes a significant portion of the over $5 billion economic impact that the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport has on the region.
Makes the region a less attractive place to do business as companies looking to relocate or expand will bypass the St. Louis area. Local companies will find it harder to conduct business out of state.
Limits the number of single-flight destinations available to business and leisure travelers forcing them to endure less frequent, more expensive service on smaller, slower aircraft. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport originating are forced onto connecting flights at larger hubs like Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago in order to reach current one
stop destinations.
Two thousand additional airline jobs gone by November 1, on top of the more than 5000 local jobs shed by American since October 2001 securing for Missouri the distinction of leading the nation in job loss for a third consecutive year. Those 2000 jobs ?will cost the St. Louis area 47,500 jobs over time according to economist Jan Brueckner of the
University of Illinois.
American Airlines Won?t Leave Empty Handed
They received over $840 million in US taxpayer-funded government relief thanks to The Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act requiring them to maintain scheduled air sever to points served before September 11. 2001.
The Bi-State region pumped tens of millions of taxpayer dollars into American and its predecessor?s Lambert Airport hub over the last decade.
An airport expansion project of nearly $2 billion, undertaken, in large part, to ensure continued operation of the airlines? hub, that required the leveling of hundreds of homes in Bridgeton, MO. and dislocation of thousands of its residents.
Its employees sacrificed over $1.8 billion annually in pay and benefit cuts for the next 5 years (a commitment they can?t back out of) to stave off bankruptcy, sustain operations and prevent facility closures and even greater job loss.
American Airlines has to answer to the Bi-State region:
Two Great Airlines ? One Great Future? was American Airlines? promise when it purchased hometown carrier TWA in 2001. But, for the Bi-State area the reality is Two Great States ? One Enormous Economic Hole.
Residents of the Bi-State region, its businesses, and the airlines? employees deserve better. They?ve kept up their end of the bargain. American Airlines has to explain why it won?t uphold its end of the deal.
They need to start in Washington, D.C. where they first committed to Missouri?s US Senate lawmakers to maintaining the Lambert-St. Louis hub and adequate air service in the region.
If you don?t appreciate being left holding American?s financial baggage, please join the members of the TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION-LOCAL 529 in contacting your Senators in Washington, DC demanding they hold American Airlines accountable for bailing out on the Bi-State region. Ask them to immediately convene investigative hearings into the airlines? actions. Contact your U.S. Congressperson requesting their support for Missouri?s Senators Bond and Talent and Illinois? Senators Fitzgerald and
Durbin in this matter.
