The merger between US Airways and American Airlines has cleared its final hurdle after a bankruptcy judge in the US approved the tie-up.
The two airlines are now set to complete the merger by December 9 under the banner of an expanded American Airlines, led by current US Airways CEO Doug Parker.
The deal had to be approved by a federal judge because American Airlines has been in chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from its creditors since 2011.
A new enlarged American Airlines will be the biggest carrier in the world following the completion of the merger.
The two airlines reached an agreement with the US Department of Justice earlier this month to end a lawsuit brought by the DOJ and several individual US states.
Under the terms of the deal with the DOJ and six US states plus the District of Columbia (Washington DC), the two airlines will give up slots and gates at Reagan airport (52 slot pairs) in Washington DC and New York’s LaGuardia (17 slot pairs).
American and US will also give up two gates at each of Dallas Love Field, Los Angeles International, Boston Logan, Chicago O’Hare International and Miami International airports.
The shares of US Airways are due to be delisted on December 6 with American’s parent company AMR Corporation renamed as American Airlines Group from December 9.