Thomas W. Horton (born May 24, 1961)[1] is a partner of Global Infrastructure Partners and is lead director at Walmart Inc. and General Electric Corp.[2] He was chairman, president, and CEO of AMR Corporation until it merged with US Airways Group to form American Airlines Group, Inc., then became chairman of American Airlines Group, Inc. and American Airlines.
[6] He is credited with helping to create the new AT&T, having led the evaluation of strategic alternatives in 2005, ultimately leading to the combination with SBC which formed the new AT&T.
[13][14] He led a team to restructure the company, while lowering costs, including in debt, leases, and its aircraft fleet, while negotiating labor contracts, among AMR's chief goals,[15] to restore company profitability and competitiveness.
[14] Simultaneously, Horton led a renewal of American's fleet and products with a landmark aircraft deal in which Boeing and Airbus would provide new airplanes to replace the older ones.
[16] The deal was the largest aircraft order in history, with 460 new single-aisle jets from the two manufacturers and $13 billion in financing.
[5] Horton served as chairman of Oneworld, the global airline alliance, from December 2011 until March 2014.