美利坚航空申请破产保护

时间：2011-11-30 07:59:09

（单词翻译:单击）

American Airlines' parent company AMR Corporation has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy1 protection.

美国航空总公司美利坚航空公司根据破产法第11章申请破产保护。

Shares in the airline plunged2 immediately they resumed trading on Tuesday and closed 81% down. They are now worth 31 cents each.

The company expects the airline to continue to operate as normal throughout the bankruptcy process.

Speculation3 about AMR's financial position surfaced in recent weeks after cost-cutting negotiations4 failed.

AMR said agreements with its workforce5 forced it to spend $600m (£384m) more than other airlines on staff costs.

The airline employs 78,000 staff worldwide and operates out of five major US hubs.

Chapter 11 refers to a section of the US Bankruptcy Code. It protects a company from its creditors6, giving it time to reorganise its debts or sell parts of the business.

American Airlines was the only one of the major US airlines operating international routes not to file for bankruptcy after the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Its competitors have successfully used bankruptcy to restructure their labour contracts and cut costs.

Changes at the board

The company also announced that Gerard Arpey, the Chief Executive of AA has retired7 and would be replaced by the company's president, Thomas Horton.

Mr Horton said the board had unanimously（全体一致地） decided8 to file for bankruptcy on Monday night.

He announced that American would be looking to change its employees' terms and conditions. "We plan to initiate9 further negotiations with all of our unions to reduce our labour costs to competitive levels," he said.

David Bates, president of the Allied10 Pilots Association conceded that employment terms would change. "The 18-month timeline allotted11 for（拨给） restructuring will almost certainly involve significant changes to the airline's business plan and to our contract."

Mr Horton insisted that the company would emerge in more robust12 health: "I am confident American will emerge even stronger as a global leader known for excellence13 and innovation."

He added that during the restructuring the airline would reduce its flight schedule in the US "modestly" with a corresponding reduction in staff.

Mr Horton said no single factor had led to the decision to file for Chapter 11 but the company needed to cut costs. He pointed14 to weak demand and high fuel prices, which have risen more than 50% in the last five years.


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1 bankruptcy fPoyJ     
n.破产；无偿付能力
参考例句：
  • You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
  • His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。
2 plunged 06a599a54b33c9d941718dccc7739582     
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降
参考例句：
  • The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
  • She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。
3 speculation 9vGwe     
n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机
参考例句：
  • Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
  • There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。
4 negotiations af4b5f3e98e178dd3c4bac64b625ecd0     
协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过
参考例句：
  • negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
  • Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。
5 workforce workforce     
n.劳动大军，劳动力
参考例句：
  • A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
  • A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。
6 creditors 6cb54c34971e9a505f7a0572f600684b     
n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
参考例句：
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
8 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
9 initiate z6hxz     
vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入
参考例句：
  • A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
  • They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。
10 allied iLtys     
adj.协约国的；同盟国的
参考例句：
  • Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
  • Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。
11 allotted 5653ecda52c7b978bd6890054bd1f75f     
分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • I completed the test within the time allotted . 我在限定的时间内完成了试验。
  • Each passenger slept on the berth allotted to him. 每个旅客都睡在分配给他的铺位上。
12 robust FXvx7     
adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的
参考例句：
  • She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
  • China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。
13 excellence ZnhxM     
n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德
参考例句：
  • His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
  • My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。
14 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的，直截了当的
参考例句：
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

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