Though no estimates were provided by the company on the cost savings, it expects to achieve by adding regionaltraffic from other players in the market.
The company believes that the spinoff would be beneficial for American Airlines as it would enable it to diversify its regionaltraffic with additional regional airlines to ensure access to the most competitive rates and services.
The result: lower departure fees (the majors typically pay a fee to the regional for agreeing to a flight schedule that maximizes connection traffic pushed to their flights) that have tightened up profit margins for the little guys.
Nor do they have to fear competition from their most formidable natural rivals, the regional Bell companies, because the Bells are barred from carrying traffic long distance.
Frederick, Maryland (CNN) -- The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday told 149 regional airports across the country it would begin closing their air traffic control towers in April, but said it would spare another 40 towers that had been on the chopping block.