Longtime American Airlines executive Art Torno has returned to Miami, overseeing American’s largest international route system and replacing his retiring mentor, Peter Dolara, as the airline’s vice president of Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Mr. Torno’s assignment comes at a key juncture in the storied airline’s history, as American reorganizes under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

“It is a difficult process,” he said. “It’s probably the most difficult thing that I’ve had to manage through my career, but at the end of the day we’re going to preserve 55,000 jobs and their potential for the future.”

Based in Miami, Mr. Torno oversees operations at Miami International Airport, one of American’s five hubs, which it plans to rely on in coming years.

Mr. Torno discussed his career with American and the company’s reorganization plans with Miami Today staff writer Scott Blake at American’s offices on Ponce De Leon Boulevard in Coral Gables.