American Eagle airline to be renamed Envoy

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- American Eagle, which operates regional flights for American Airlines, is changing its name to Envoy.

Eagle said Tuesday that the change will be made this spring to give the airline its own identity.

The American Eagle name isn't going away, however. American Airlines Group Inc., formed by December's merger of American and US Airways, will use the brand for feeder flights that are provided by 10 different regional carriers.

American Eagle CEO Pedro Fabregas said the airline and its 14,000 employees "deserve a name that is all our own." He said the Envoy name would help with marketing and expansion of its ground-handling business.

The airline said it picked Envoy after looking at more than 1,000 names and getting comments from employees. It said the name reflects serving as an ambassador to customers.

Envoy's planes will still be painted in the colors and logo — livery, in airline terminology — of American Eagle. A tagline, "Operated by Envoy," will be added to planes and passenger tickets.