AIRLINES

American May Drop ‘Value Pricing’: After months of staunchly defending a simplified fare structure introduced in April, American Airlines Chairman Robert Crandall hinted for the first time that competitive pressures may force its demise. But a spokesman for the nation’s largest carrier said there were no immediate plans to abandon the four-tier pricing program, which American had hoped would ease planning for travelers and lower costs and raise revenue for itself. The simplified fare plan, dubbed “Value Pricing” by American, was initially praised by consumers and travel agents, and other airlines moved to adopt it. But carriers later rebelled by launching fare discounts and two--Northwest and Continental--filed a predatory pricing lawsuit against American.