Is American Airlines about to file for bankruptcy to shaft unions and retirees?

[marmar]

NEW YORK (AP) -- American Airlines' CEO is proud that his company, unlike its biggest rivals, avoided the bankruptcy process to remake itself. Investors aren't so sure.

As the economic outlook darkens, the airline industry is bracing for trouble. Among the biggest U.S. carriers, American has the most to fear. It faces the highest labor, aircraft and borrowing costs.

"They've become old and feeble," says Vaughn Cordle, chief analyst with AirlineForecasts.

American's problems are the kinds that can be fixed under the protection of a bankruptcy court. And some analysts point to the airline's beaten-down stock price -- it's fallen 69 percent this year -- as evidence that Chapter 11 is not out of the realm of possibility. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/American-Airlines-faces-apf-1834610885.html?x=0