AMERICAN INVESTMENT: British Airways parent IAG is considering buying a small interest in business partner American Airlines.

TEAM SPIRIT: As part of its bankruptcy case, American is considering several merger options, and British Airways wants to make sure that American stays in oneworld, one of the three big alliances of global airlines. American competes against United and Delta, and its oneworld team competes against United's Star Alliance and Delta's SkyTeam, especially for international customers.

WORKING TOGETHER: American, British Airways and another IAG carrier, Spain's Iberia, already share revenue on trans-Atlantic flights as part of a joint venture that BA wants to protect.