Regional airline changing name

American Eagle Airlines, which operates short-distance flights for the larger American Airlines, is changing its name, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

The regional airline, which is owned by American Airlines, will begin operating as Envoy Airlines in March, according to the report.

The change is necessary because American’s contract with its pilots, which was signed during its bankruptcy proceedings before it merged with US Airways, required it to expand its use of regional airlines to other carriers.

The paper said the newly christened Envoy Airlines would still operate its flights at American Eagle, but it would become part of the regional airlines that do business under the larger airlines banner, similar to other airlines’ set-ups.