according to a Tuesday memo to employees from CEO Tom Horton. Without specifying, Horton cited "multiple options available to us for consideration." In addition to
exploring a tie-up with US Airways, Horton disclosed in the memo that last year he "approached my counterparts at other airlines about the merits of possible combinations." Since then, however, the company entered bankruptcy court protection with "the view that it is best that we first put our own house in order before considering a complex and challenging airline acquisition," according to Horton. Now, he added, "we are arriving at the appropriate point to carefully and objectively evaluate the range of strategic alternatives available."