History of the American Airlines and US Airways Merger in Links

American Airlines and US Airways have just reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department to drop its anti-trust lawsuit and permit the two airlines to merge. The merger is scheduled to happen in December. The settlement includes the divestiture of slots at major airports such as Washington-Reagan and New York-LaGaurdia.

We’ve covered the story closely since the first whisperings of a merger and chronicled the February 14 merger announcement on our liveblog.

The 20 most important moments, in what was hoped to be a seamless merger, are outlined below in reverse chronological order:

• AA-U.S. Airways Preparing a Settlement Proposal, Including Giving Up D.C. Slots
• Virgin America Seeks To File Brief Opposed to New American Airlines
• Southwest, JetBlue Tell Government They Want American’s and US Airways Slots
• U.S. Attorney General Says US Air and American Must Shed Airport Slots
• American Airline’s CEO Sees One Last Way to Avoid Trial Showdown With DOJ
• American and US Air Hub Airports Want To Intervene In Antitrust Case
• American Airlines Reorganization Plan Gets Formal Approval
• American Airlines and US Airways Ask DOJ Who It Consulted Pre-Lawsuit
• No Merger Worries, According to US Airways’ and American Airlines’ Shares
• Michigan Is Latest State to Join Lawsuit Against American-US Airways Merger
• U.S. Justice Dept Files Anti-Trust Lawsuit To Block American-US Airways Merger
• EU Clears Way for US Airways and American Air Merger, With Conditions
• American Airlines Creditors Voting in Favor of Reorganization Plan
• US Airways shareholders approve merger with American Airlines
• AA-US Air merger causes regulatory concern with reduced competition on 1,600 routes
• Leadership team of new American Airlines gets heavy US Airways stamp
• American files bankruptcy exit plan, as it closes on US Airways merger
• AA-US merger gets court approval, decision delayed on Horton’s $20 million package
• How Doug Parker beat out Tom Horton for CEO
• It’s officially official: American and US Airways merge to create world’s largest airline