Airlines Central America

American Airlines' purchase of rival Eastern Airlines' South and Central American routes Tuesday capped a year-end buying binge intended to push American--the country's largest domestic airline--to international prominence as well. The shopping spree started Monday, when American snapped up money-losing Trans World Airlines' valuable route to London from Chicago--a moneymaker that American has coveted for years.

American Airlines' purchase of rival Eastern Airlines' South and Central American routes Tuesday capped a year-end buying binge intended to push American--the country's largest domestic airline--to international prominence as well. The shopping spree started Monday, when American snapped up money-losing Trans World Airlines' valuable route to London from Chicago--a moneymaker that American has coveted for years.

American Airlines said Tuesday that it agreed to purchase the money-making South and Central American routes of Eastern Airlines in a deal valued at $471 million. The two carriers, which had been holding intense talks in the last few days, had apparently agreed to announce the deal at a news conference in Miami today. But according to Houston-based Texas Air Corp. which owns Eastern, American's chairman Robert L. Crandall jumped the gun and told American employees at Dallas/Ft.

American Airlines said Tuesday that it agreed to purchase the money-making South and Central American routes of Eastern Airlines in a deal valued at $471 million. The two carriers, which had been holding intense talks in the last few days, had apparently agreed to announce the deal at a news conference in Miami today. But according to Houston-based Texas Air Corp. which owns Eastern, American's chairman Robert L. Crandall jumped the gun and told American employees at Dallas/Ft.

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