US Airways and American Airlines said Thursday they want a Nov. 12 court date to argue their case for a merger in front of a judge, but the U.S. Department of Justice wants to schedule the trial next year.

A federal judge will ultimately make the scheduling decision. US Airways CEO Doug Parker told employees in a message Thursday that the company is trying to get to court as quickly as possible to fight the Justice Department.

“Along with our colleagues at American Airlines, we are looking forward to proving in a court what all of us have known all along — that this merger is good for competition and as a result, extremely good for consumers,” said Parker.

He also said that over the coming weeks, the company will provide employees with more information about how they “can best support this effort.”

Several US Airways and American unions, who favor the merger as a path to higher wages and more career stability, have taken out newspaper ads, contacted politicians and discussed steps such as picketing to show their support.

The Justice Department shocked US Airways and American executives when it sued last week to block the merger on antitrust grounds, saying the combination would drive up ticket prices and fees for fliers by eliminating competition.

The new American, which Parker would head, would be the world’s largest airline, with 108,000 employees and 6,700 daily flights. It would also control the largest share of the U.S. domestic flying market. Charlotte Douglas International Airport would be its second largest hub, after Dallas/Fort Worth.