Judge Approves Airline Merger, but Lawsuit Looms

FORT WORTH (AP) — A federal judge is approving American Airlines’ plan to emerge from bankruptcy protection and merge with US Airways, although the airlines must still resolve their lawsuit with the federal government, which is trying to block the merger. A trial over that lawsuit is scheduled for November. Today’s ruling by federal bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane in New York provides at least the perception that the merger is still moving forward for Fort Worth-based American.