Statement from PBGC Director Josh Gotbaum on American Airlines Announcement of Plan Freezes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 01, 2012 - PBGC

WASHINGTON — Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Director Josh Gotbaum released the following statement today on American Airlines' decision to freeze all four of its pension plans, effective today:

"Today marks a mixed result for the people of American Airlines. We of course are pleased that they will get to keep the pension benefits they have already earned, but it is unfortunate that going forward their retirement benefits will not provide the same level of security as a traditional pension."

About PBGC

PBGC protects the pension benefits of 44 million Americans in private-sector pension plans. The agency is directly responsible for paying the benefits of more than 1.5 million people in failed pension plans. PBGC receives no taxpayer dollars and never has. Its operations are financed by insurance premiums and with assets and recoveries from failed plans. For more information, visit PBGC.gov.

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PBGC No. 12-31