American Airlines, US Airways offer bonuses for outdoing rivals

To beat the competition, the management of American Airlines and US Airways is putting up some reward money.

Under a recently announced incentive program, the company that now operates the two airlines has offered each employee a $50 bonus for each government-monitored performance category the merged carrier dominates.

The two airlines have agreed to join forces and now operate under the management of the American Airlines Group.

In March, the U.S. Department of Transportation is to release a ranking of the nation’s airlines for on-time performance, the rate of mishandled baggage and customer satisfaction.

If the two airlines outperform their biggest competitors -- Delta, Southwest and United -- management will pay each employee $50 for each category they dominate. If the newly merged airline beats its competitors in all three categories, each employee gets $150.

“We have a long race ahead of us against fierce competition, but I know that we are up to the challenge if we work together,” Robert Isom, chief operating officer for the carrier, said in a letter to employees.

The incentive program replaces similar efforts adopted in the past at each airlines.

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