AMERICAN AIRLINES, the world's number two air carrier, is close to an agreement to take over TWA - TRANS WORLD AIRLINES ($2.74 bn turnover in the first nine months of 2000, with 20,000 employees), in financial difficulty, and 20% of the assets of US AIRWAYS. The total cost of the operation should amount to some $2 bn, including debts. AMERICAN AIRLINES could also take a 49% stake in a new company being set up, DC AIR, from UNITED AIRLINES for $1.4 bn.