LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: Today's "Ask CNN" rises from TWA's announced bankruptcy and American Airlines' plans to buy up the assets. Our question comes from a TWA stockholder, as a matter of fact, in Stratford, Connecticut. Essentially, he asks: What about me?</s>SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Viewer Michael Kenny from Stratford, Connecticut asks</s>CNN: "I own TWA shares of stock. What will happen to them?" If you own TWA shares, then you have probably have been feeling a lot of pain. This is a stock that has been severely hit by its recurring economic weakness. It hasn't reported a profit since 1988. It's filed for bankruptcy protection now three times. And as such, when a company files for bankruptcy protection, it is doing so because it can't pay its creditors. American Airlines is stepping in. And the money that it is raising to buy most of TWA's assets will be paid to creditors. It is under no obligation to pay shareholders. Donald Carty, the chairman and CEO, said nothing of any gesture to pay shareholders.</s>DONALD CARTY, CHMN. & CEO, AMERICAN AIRLINES: We've agreed to purchase substantially all the assets of Trans World Airlines for approximately $500 million.</s>LISOVICZ: So, for TWA shareholders, they are likely to feel even more pain.</s>WATERS: Got a question? Ask CNN. It's as simple as logging onto cnn.com and following the "Ask CNN" link. For AOL subscribers, it's keyword CNN.
Ask CNN: What Will Happen to Shares of TWA Stock?