American Air Beefs Up Fla. Role

MIAMI — American Airlines today announced plans to base up to 700 pilots and flight attendants in southern Florida, home of embattled Eastern Airlines.

American, based in Ft. Worth, Tex., is “deeply committed to the Florida market and believes Florida will play a critical role in our future expansion,” said Robert W. Baker, senior vice president for operations. American, one of the industry’s fastest-growing large airlines, also announced it will add a flight attendant crew base in Nashville, Tenn. The Miami and Nashville sites bring American’s total crew bases to 12.