The deal comes as part of American's restructuring under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and US Airways' ambitions to grow and vault into the big leagues with airlines the size of Delta and United. US Airways chief executive Doug Parker – who tried but failed to engineer a merger with Delta during Delta's bankruptcy several years ago - sees the deal as the last major airline merger among U.S. carriers. "This is the last major piece needed to fully rationalize the industry, enabling airlines to not only be intentionally competitive but also sustainably profitable," Parker said.