American Airlines recalls 800 workers

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- American Airlines said it was bringing nearly 800 furloughed workers back to work to capitalize on its partnership with Spanish and British airlines.

AMR Chairman and Chief Operating Executive Gerard Arpey said, "This is exactly the kind of growth we're hoping to achieve with our network strategy, and my hope is that trends like this will continue," The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday.

While the recall news was released, Arpey was in London with British Airways CEO Willie Walks and Iberia CEO Antonio Vazquez Romero to kick off an alliance between the carriers that American Airlines said was aiming to join forces with Japan Airlines.

"Several factors contributed to the company's ability to recall (workers) … primarily efforts to capitalize on new international flying and business opportunities with British Airways and Iberia, continuing to strengthen its cornerstone hubs and preparing for its pending alliance with Japan Airlines," the carrier said in a statement.