We have, unlike many of our competitors, continued to meet our various financial obligations.

We need to take excellent care of our customers, and do so at a profit.

But I don't think the popularity of flying has diminished a bit.

However, the economics of our business continued to deteriorate. We barely escaped bankruptcy a year ago, and in the aftermath of that escape we had to make some even tougher decisions.

At American Airlines, we have built a business around the love of travel that has lasted three quarters of a century. And I'm pretty sure we're just getting started.

We have, unlike many of our competitors, continued to meet our various financial obligations.

Second, we have to make the most of the strengths we have, the amenities that many of our competitors cannot replicate. But again, those advantages won't mean much if we don't do a great job with the basics of our business.