American Airlines News

If nothing else, US Airways has a sense of humor. As silly as this may be, it's American's execs that are consistently looking like clowns.

American Airlines' direct-connect push has yet to take off in a huge way, but the BookIt.com agreement shows it ain't dead yet. Old-school GDS protests aside, travel agencies should be able to establish such ties with anyone they want to.

The contract, while better, still includes layoffs of both mechanics and clerks. The thousands who will lose jobs are likely not soothed by the news of the multi-million dollar bonuses execs will receive even if they only half-succeed transforming the carrier.

The unions are rooting for a pairing with US Airways, but who knows what the months of high-priced consultants and lawyers have whispered into American's executive's ears.

A strategic leak to WSJ on this one: American is likely approaching potential partners reluctantly because, as Andrew Ross Sorkin made clear, its execs stand to make a ton of money if they wait to merge.