American, US Airways announce $US$11b merger to create world's largest airline American Airlines and US Airways will merger in a deal that will create the world's biggest airline. AMERICAN Airlines and US Airways say they have agreed to merge in an $US11 billion ($10.6 billion) deal to create the world's biggest airline. The boards of the two airlines unanimously approved the deal on Wednesday, and the companies announced the agreement overnight. The deal is a coup for smaller US Airways, which pushed for a merger almost as soon as American parent AMR filed for bankruptcy protection in November 2011. US Airways pushed for a merger almost immediately after American Airlines filed for bankruptcy in November 2011. Above, American employees help a traveller with check-in at Miami International Airport. While Mr Parker runs the company, AMR CEO Tom Horton will serve as chairman until its first shareholder meeting, likely in mid-2014. The airlines said they expect $US1 billion in combined savings. The companies had negotiated since August, when creditors pushed AMR to conduct merger talks so they could decide which earned them a better return: a merger or an independent American. The rapid consolidation has allowed the surviving airlines to offer bigger route networks that appeal to high-paying business travelers. The new American would have more than 900 planes, 3200 daily flights and about 95,000 employees, not counting regional affiliates.