Buyer Sought for AMR Combs; Decision Expected by Year-End

At B/CA Show News presstime, AMR Combs was sending information packages to prospective buyers of its chain of 14 FBOs following the parent company's decision to focus solely on its core airline operations. Dallas-based AMR Corp late last month disclosed plans to sell three non-core businesses that together made up its AMR Global Services unit. Besides the FBOs, an airline-oriented ramp handling company and a telemarketing unit are on the block. "We're going to be very selective in the process, and it's going to be cash buyers only," said AMR Combs president William Koch. The company plans to narrow the field to a few finalists this month and hopes to reach a definitive agreement for purchase of the FBOs by the end of the year, Koch said. He said AMR Combs had been preparing for the move for a long time, and was in "great shape" for a new owner. "It should be a very smooth transition," he added. Locations include two FBOs in Mexico, one in Hong Kong, and 11 domestic locations. At four of those sites,-Hartford, Indianapolis, Fort Lauderdale and Denver-Bombardier Aviation Services operates service centers for Learjets, Challengers and the new Global Express. AMR Combs employs approximately 1,000. It had 1997 revenues of $115 million