March 19--COLONIE -- The American Airlines name is slowly returning to Albany International Airport as more US Airways flights offer so-called code share arrangements with the Dallas-based carrier.
And at some point, the US Airways name will disappear when it assumes American's name as the companies' merger moves toward completion.
"It will take some time for American and US Airways to gain approval for one single operating/flying certificate by government agencies," the airline said in a statement Tuesday. "We are hopeful we'll complete this process by the third or fourth quarter of next year. Until such time, AA and US will operate in name separately."
Even before then, however, airport and local business officials would like to see American return to the airport.
"We have made considerable effort in getting them back," said Nick Vaugh, public affairs manager for the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce.
American ended service at Albany Nov. 1, 2008, after eight decades of service by the carrier and its predecessors.
Three years later, American entered bankruptcy reorganization, emerging last year with a plan to combine with US Airways.
The airport has seen a number of mergers in recent years. United and Continental combined under United's name, while Northwest merged into Delta.
One new carrier -- JetBlue -- on Monday announced its intention to begin service at Albany next year.
Its first two destinations will be in Florida, although U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, who campaigned to get JetBlue here, said he expects the airline will add service to other cities as well.
Following Monday's news conference, airport CEO John O'Donnell said he was optimistic about American's return.
"There is a strong possibility that American Airlines will return, a strong possibility of mainliners to Chicago, this summer," he told a reporter.
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is one of American's key hubs, and would give travelers an alternative to United, with which American would directly compete, and with Southwest, which flies nonstop from Albany to Chicago's Midway Airport.
The airline was noncommital, however.
"American is constantly looking at our network and reviewing market demand and particularly now as we embark on creating a single flying operation," it told the Times Union. "With this said, we do not comment or speculate on future flying."
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