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With United unveiling Thursday plans for industry veteran Scott Kirby to take the helm as CEO next year, investors are turning to succession plans at another carrier: American Airlines Group. American has been struggling with dismal stock and revenue performance and strained labour relations, putting pressure on top management to turn things around. Ironically, Kirby landed at United from American in 2016 after the board passed over him as a potential leader in what was described as succession planning for the longer-term. But given diverging performance at the two airlines since Kirby’s departure - with United’s shares doubling and American’s losing about 25% - industry insiders and analysts have questioned the leadership of American Chief Executive Doug Parker and heir apparent Robert Isom, and had speculated about Kirby’s possible return. “American is now without a future pilot,” said Eric Schiffer, chairman of Reputation Management Consultants. When American ousted Kirby, it mentioned the “marketability” of its executives and elevated Isom, then chief operating officer, to the role of president. “When American picked Isom his strength was on the operational side. With the airline lagging not only in profitability but also in operations, you can understand why people question whether that succession plan still makes sense,” aviation analyst Seth Kaplan said. American said in an e-mailed statement it has an ongoing succession planning process, which the company’s board of directors discusses regularly.<br/>

LATAM Airlines Group has terminated plans to develop a joint venture agreement with alliance partner IAG after deciding to leave the Oneworld alliance. The Brazil-based carrier today stated its intention to cancel the joint venture, first announced in January 2016. “IAG and LATAM Airlines have decided that they will not implement the announced joint business agreement or JBA,” the airline states in a regulatory filing. Interline agreements, codeshare agreements, contracts of access to VIP lounges and frequent passenger program between the airlines remain valid, the statement says. LATAM says in a press statement that the decision was made for "commercial reasons and in the context of changes in the aviation market since the joint business agreement was first announced in January 2016", reiterating that "both airline groups are committed to maintaining their longstanding relationship". LATAM's decision to leave Oneworld came after Delta announced in September that it will invest $1.9b in LATAM, representing a 20% stake in the company. Earlier this week, the South American carrier finalised the new codeshare agreement with pending-equity owner and Delta, which will see the airline terminate its joint venture with American Airlines on 31 January 2020.<br/>