American, US Airways extend merger deadline

   US Airways Group and American Airlines’ parent company have amended the merger deadline to Jan. 18, 2014, pushing it back from a mid-December deadline to accommodate the Justice Department’s antitrust trial.
   In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the carriers said either party may terminate the agreement up until the new deadline. If a judge rules in favor of the merger on or before Jan. 17, the deadline would be changed to 15 days after the ruling.
   The trial, which is being held in Washington, is scheduled to start on Nov. 25.
   “The boards and management teams of AMR and US Airways remain committed to completing this combination to create the new American, and the extension of this outside date is a reflection of this commitment,” officials from the carriers said in a joint statement. “Our focus is on mounting a vigorous defense and winning our court case so the new American can enhance competition, provide better service to our customers and create more opportunities for our employees.”
   AMR trading was down 0.25 percent to $3.94 on Tuesday morning, while shares of US Airways were $19.13, up 1.41 percent.