The filing of bankruptcy proceedings late last year won't stop American Eagle Airlines from making its annual seasonal increase in flights at Santa Fe Municipal Airport this spring.

The regional carrier for American Airlines, starting April 3, will add an extra flight between Santa Fe and Dallas/Fort Worth, bringing the total number of daily round trips to three. The carrier also will continue to operate a daily round trip between Santa Fe and Los Angeles.

"Things are looking good for us," Santa Fe airport manager Jim Montman said Monday. "Despite the fact that AMR [American Airlines' parent company] is having financial problems, Santa Fe is a very viable market for American Eagle."

Since it began regional jet service to Santa Fe in 2009, American Eagle has increased the number of flights during the busy spring and summer months each year and reduced them in fall and winter, when tourist numbers decline.

AMR filed for bankruptcy protection in November, seeking relief from crushing debt caused by high fuel prices and expensive labor contracts that its competitors shed years ago. To save money, AMR wants to cut 14,000 jobs and cancel its pension plan with workers.

The company also delayed the spinoff of American Eagle, which had been expected early this year. The holding company for the regional airline also filed for bankruptcy protection.

There has been concern that AMR will reduce or eliminate American Eagle flights to smaller markets such as Santa Fe.

However, American Eagle spokesman Ed Martelle said Monday from Dallas that business at American Eagle is going on "pretty much as usual despite the [bankruptcy] reorganization."

As for the extra round trip between Santa Fe and Dallas/Fort Worth, he said, "We wouldn't be putting it in there if we didn't think the market would support it."

He said the addition of an early flight is particularly convenient for travelers headed south. A late departure from the American Airlines hub at Dallas/Forth Worth to Santa Fe also will ease connections for travelers using the airport here rather than the Albuquerque International Sunport.

Once the new service begins, the first departure of the morning will leave for Dallas/Fort Worth at about 7 a.m., the airline website shows. The latest flight into Santa Fe will depart Dallas/Fort Worth about 9 p.m.

Martelle said he thinks the bankruptcy reorganization may take as long as a year to complete.

"It's not like Chrysler or GM, which were both prepackaged [bankruptcies]," he said. "Our reorganization is more like, 'Where do we begin?' "

Bloomberg reports that three possible suitors -- Delta Airlines, US Airways Group and TPG Capital -- are considering bids for AMR.

"AMR has hired advisers and filed papers to keep or reject possible bids" for AMR, Bloomberg reported.