The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

American Eagle’s future in the Bahamas looks “very bright” despite indications it may be spun-off from its American Airlines (AMR) parent, having added seven new staff in Nassau during the past three months.

 Erika Collie, American Eagle’s general manager in Nassau, told Tribune Business that while AMR has been undergoing a restructuring process since the latter part of 2011,  she had no specifics yet as to the impact this would have on American Eagle’s Nassau operations.

Daniel Garton, the chief executive of American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines,recently said he expects it will be sold or spun off as a separate company after its ultimate parent, AMR, emerges from bankruptcy protection. AMR Corp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last November, during which time it had shelved its effort to separate American Eagle from its operation.

“In terms of the spin-off, I don’t have any specifics as yet,” Mrs Collie said. “The future of American Eagle/American Airlines in the Bahamas looks very bright. There has been no reduction of flights/frequency changes in the entire Bahamas region. There has not been any reduction in staff. In fact, within the past three months we have hired seven additional employees for Nassau’s operation alone. This brings our total staff count to 76.”  

Mrs Collie said American Eagle’s average load factor for this time of year was in the upper 70 per cents, and often higher on weekends.

“These types of loads during the September to early November period are very good considering that this is the slowest period of the travel year,” said Mrs Collie.

American Eagle operates seven daily flights, except on Tuesdays and Wednesday, when it operates six.