UPDATE: US Airways Shareholders Approve Merger With American Airlines

US Airways Group, Inc.

today announced that its shareholders approved the merger agreement with AMR Corporation

, the parent company of American Airlines, Inc. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120103/LA28814LOGO) The merger agreement was approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of US Airways stock, which represented over 99% of the votes cast by US Airways shareholders on the proposal. Of the 132,788,060 shares voted, 132,273,780 shares voted in favor of the proposal; 257,757 shares voted against; and 256,523 abstained. Shareholders also approved other proposals related to the merger. Doug Parker, chairman and CEO of US Airways, and incoming CEO of the combined company, said, "We are pleased that our shareholders overwhelmingly supported our merger with American Airlines. This approval is a major milestone on our path to completing the merger, and we continue to make excellent progress overall thanks to the focused efforts of the dedicated representatives from both companies. By bringing together two highly complementary networks and generating significant revenue synergies, the new American Airlines will deliver enhanced value for its shareholders. I want to thank our shareholders, our customers and our more than 100,000 dedicated employees for their support throughout this process and look forward to moving forward as an even stronger airline." As previously announced, AMR and US Airways agreed to combine to create the new American Airlines, a premier global carrier. Headquartered in Dallas-Fort Worth, the new American Airlines will become a highly competitive alternative for consumers to other global carriers and is expected to offer more than 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56 countries. The combined airline will offer customers more choices and increased service across a larger worldwide network and through an enhanced oneworld® Alliance. Together, American Airlines and US Airways are expected to operate a mainline fleet of almost 950 aircraft and employ more than 100,000 team members worldwide. The merger is subject to regulatory approvals, other customary closing conditions and confirmation of AMR's Plan of Reorganization by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The companies continue to expect to complete the combination in the third quarter of 2013. About US Airways US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,100 flights per day and serves 198 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide, operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus aircraft and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 21,900 daily flights to 1,328 airports in 195 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance magazine presented US Airways with the 2012 Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of the Year Award for demonstrating outstanding achievement and innovation in the area of technical operations. Military Times Edge magazine named US Airways as a Best for Vets employer for the past three years. US Airways was, for the third year in a row, the only airline included as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine's 50 Report. The airline also earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index for six consecutive years. The Corporate Equality index is a leading indicator of companies' attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. For more company information visit usairways.com, follow on Twitter @USAirways or at Facebook.com/USAirways. (LCCG)