American Airlines-US Airways merger: Integration will likely be painful

Get ready for a possibly painful, problem-ridden, and prolonged merger of American Airlines and US Airways if the deal goes through. But, some could argue that on the positive side, at least the paint job and uniform issues likely have been settled. The integration of the two airlines, with all of the labor, technological and logistical issues to sort out, will undoubtedly take years, and the stakes are extremely high, as United-Continental's bumpy track record in their merger highlights. Getting a handle on integrating US Airways' and American Airlines' pilots, flight attendants and other labor groups will be an overriding issue, as former American CEO Robert Crandall and numerous analysts point out. Pilot deal could ease some of the pain Although the details aren't publicly known, the pilots unions at American and US Airways have made significant progress toward a framework if their respective boards seal the deal. The potential complications are exacerbated, ho