AA tells pilots to expect growth

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FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The head of American Airlines said he was "impartial about a merger" that might help the carrier emerge from bankruptcy, a company executive said.

Chief Executive Officer Tom Horton met recently with representatives of the Allied Pilots Association.

After the meeting, summing up what was discussed, Vice President of Flight John Hale wrote in a memo that Horton was, "impartial about a merger, contrary to what you may have heard."

Hale also said the airline would add 1,650 pilots as it added new aircraft to its fleet, the Fort Worth, Texas Star-Telegram reported Tuesday.

In addition, Hale said that pilots could expect pay to increase by 50 percent within the next five years.

"For pilots this is growth and opportunity unseen for more than a decade," Hale wrote.