About 1,000 American Airlines executives are set to receive payouts because of the rise in share price of parent AMR Corp, the company said on Friday.

The payouts fall under a performance plan approved in 2003 that covered work until the end of 2005, and include mid-level managers and those more senior, said spokeswoman Lisa Bailey.

Bailey said the compensation was triggered by the 169 percent rise in AMR shares over that time, which outpaced its peers.

The awards will be distributed in April, and the value will depend on the company's share price then, she said.

Dan Garton, American's vice president of marketing, was scheduled to get the top payout, which would be valued at about USD$1.7 million if calculated today. Three other senior executives would receive payouts currently worth about USD$1.4 million each.

Bailey said the company has had these types of compensation plans in place since 1988.