America West Airlines

Defunct airline of the United States (1981–2007)

America West Airlines

| IATA | ICAO | Call sign

|
|

HP  | AWE  | CACTUS
Founded| February 1981 (1981-02)[1]
Commenced operations| August 1, 1983 (1983-08-01)[1]
Ceased operations| September 25, 2007 (2007-09-25)
(merged into US Airways)
Hubs| Phoenix–Sky Harbor
Secondary hubs|

* Columbus–Glenn (1993–2003)
* Las Vegas

Frequent-flyer program| FlightFund
Subsidiaries| America West Express (1985–2007)
Parent company|

* America West Holdings (1981–2005)
* US Airways Group (2005–2007)

Headquarters| Tempe, Arizona, United States
Key people|

* Bill Franke
* Doug Parker

Founders|

* Ed Beauvais (First CEO)
* Mark Beauvais
* Don Neilson
* Michael Roach

America West Airlines was an airline in the United States that operated from 1981 until it merged with US Airways in 2007. It was headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. Its main hub was at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, with secondary hubs at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada and Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio. The airline merged with US Airways in 2005 and adopted US Airways as their brand name.[2] America West served about 100 cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico; flights to Europe were on codeshare partners. In September 2005, the airline had 140 aircraft, with a single maintenance base at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Regional jet and turboprop flights were operated on a code sharing basis by Mesa Airlines and Chautauqua Airlines as America West Express.

Beginning in January 2006, all America West flights were branded as US Airways, along with most signage at airports and other printed material, though many flights were described as "operated by America West." Apart from two heritage aircraft, the only remaining America West branding on aircraft were found on some seat covers and bulkheads. The merged airline used America West's "CACTUS" callsign and ICAO code "AWE", but retained the US Airways name. As part of a merger between American Airlines and US Airways in February 2013,[3] which led to American becoming the world's largest airline, the call sign and ICAO code name was later retired on April 8, 2015, when the FAA granted a single operating certificate for both US Airways and American Airlines.[4] The US Airways brand continued until October 17, 2015, when it merged with American Airlines.

## History

[edit]

de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 series 100 in 1991

The airline was established in February 1981 and began operations August 1, 1983, using three leased Boeing 737s flying out of its base in Phoenix, Arizona (PHX), with Ed Beauvais, a well-known airline industry consultant, as CEO.[5] In the early years, passengers could purchase their tickets on the aircraft.

The airline quickly expanded, with 11 737s flying to 13 cities; in 1984, America West's fleet grew to 21 aircraft flying to 23 cities. The June 1984 timetable shows 71 weekday departures from Phoenix, non-stop to 18 cities; from 1985 to 1986, it established a second hub at Las Vegas.[6]

Confident in its expansion, the increasingly-dominant carrier at Phoenix Sky Harbor influenced the development of Terminal 4. America West requested that the construction include an auxiliary power facility and an underground cavity to accommodate a future rail station, to which the airport ultimately agreed.[7]

America West was one of the first airlines to use extensive "cross-utilization", in which employees were trained in a variety of airline jobs, such as pilots trained in dispatch, and both baggage handlers and flight attendants trained as gate agents. America West started as a "full-service" airline, in contrast with Southwest Airlines, a discount air carrier competing in many markets. America West used an aggressive employee stock-ownership program, in which new employees were required to invest 20% of their salary in company stock, providing a steady flow of cash as the company grew. America West pilots and other employees were paid wages far below those of competitors[8]

Revenue Passenger-Kilometers, in millions  Year | Traffic

|

1984  | 2006
1985  | 3675
1990  | 17869
1995  | 21420
2000  | 30753
2005  | 39036

Source: Air Transport World

Former logo

By 1985 America West had outgrown their gate space at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and during the construction of Terminal 4, approved in 1986, a temporary concourse was added to the southwest corner of Terminal 3 to give them six more gates (growing to eleven by 1990).

The airline's growth continued in 1986 and the airline expanded its fleet, mainly with Boeing 757-200s purchased from Northwest Airlines (following Northwest's acquisition of Republic Airlines) and a number of de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8s. (Unusually, the Dash 8 flights were not code-shares and Mesa code-shares replaced them in 1992–93.) The airline started red-eye flights from Las Vegas to improve aircraft utilization.

Boeing 747-200 at Phoenix Sky Harbor in 1991

America West's rapid growth led to large losses and by 1986 the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Originally slated to occupy the vast majority of the gates in Terminal 4, the airline had to reduce their commitment to the city of Phoenix to just 28 gates, with the growing Southwest Airlines agreeing to lease the remainder of Terminal 4.

In June 1987 Ansett Transport Industries purchased a 20% stake in America West, increasing it to 26% in April 1991.[9][10]

In 1988, Patrick Thurston, Vice-President of Operations, Bob Russell, Chief of Pilots, and Carl Wobser, a captain, all pleaded guilty to multiple counts of narcotics trafficking.[11]

Three America West Airlines aircraft operated services in Australia with Ansett Australia during the 1989 Australian pilots' dispute.[10]

Boeing 737-112 at San Jose International Airport in 1993

As they explored destinations beyond the United States, America West filed with Department of Transportation for a Phoenix to Sydney route to connect with Ansett Airlines in Australia. The proposal was rejected and the Reagan Administration awarded the route to another airline. In 1989, America West leased four Boeing 747-200s (formerly operated by KLM) and began non-stop 747 flights between Phoenix and Honolulu, Hawaii, and non-stop between Honolulu and Nagoya, Japan. The 747 was the only wide-body aircraft America West used for long-haul flights. The airline also expanded narrow-body jet service to Mexican destinations.

In 1990, America West moved into the new Terminal 4 at Phoenix and took delivery of several Airbus A320s originally destined for now-defunct Braniff Airways. Braniff had purchased the order rights from Pan Am, another troubled carrier, and the A320s were sold to America West at a steep discount. Annual revenue reached a billion dollars, the threshold for the Department of Transportation to categorize America West as a major airline.[5] The July 1990 timetable shows 182 weekday departures from Phoenix non-stop to 46 airports and 132 departures from Las Vegas to 39 airports. (24 LAS departures were between midnight and 01:40.)

The airline continued to lose money: operating expenses at Terminal 4 were far higher than in the temporary Terminal 3 concourse; the Nagoya route carried almost no passengers; tensions before the Gulf War caused fuel costs to rise. America West filed for bankruptcy in June 1991.

In June 1995, W. Douglas Parker joined America West as senior vice president and chief financial officer; he would be elected chairman, president and CEO in September 2001.[12] The airline was fined $2.5 million for maintenance violations in July 1998, and in August 2000 the FAA was reportedly prepared to ground the airline for these violations.[13][14]

### Bankruptcy

[edit]

America West Boeing 737-300 and America West Express Beechcraft 1900D at Sky Harbor (1995)

America West operated under bankruptcy from 1991 to 1994; as part of the restructuring, employee stock became worthless, the airline's 747s and Dash8s were sold and the fleet was pared down to 87 aircraft. Hawaii and Nagoya routes were scrapped and America West feeder service to smaller cities and local markets was contracted to Mesa Airlines, which began flying turboprops and regional jets as America West Express.

On the management side, Founder Ed Beauvais was removed as CEO, remaining on the board of directors, and was replaced with Mike Conway, who had been with the airline since the start. Conway left the airline in 1994, replaced as CEO by A. Maurice Myers.

America West's flight attendants unionized in 1993, ending cross-utilization between customer service agents, flight attendants and ground agents. Several maintenance and training functions previously operated in-house by America West were outsourced during the bankruptcy.

### Reorganization

[edit]

America West Airlines Airbus A319 departing Portland International Airport

In 1994, America West was finally able to secure a reorganization allowing it to come out of bankruptcy, with a large portion of the airline owned by a partnership including Mesa Airlines and Continental Airlines, resulting in code sharing agreements with these airlines.

To help reinvigorate the airline as they emerged from bankruptcy, a number of changes occurred, including a new color scheme and logo (used until the merger with US Airways), new livery, E-tickets, and online ticket purchasing in 1996. The airline continued ordering Airbus A320s and began gradually retiring their older Boeing 737-200s.

In 1993, America West opened a hub at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio, using Chautauqua Airlines and Mesa Airlines to provide commuter and regional flights via code sharing agreements in addition to mainline jets. An America West Club was at the hub in an area previously used for a TWA Ambassadors' Club.

In late 2001, America West was the first airline to apply for and receive a loan from the Air Transportation Stabilization Board.[15] As of April 2005, the remaining balance on the loan was $300 million. The ATSB loan and its guarantees were paid back by US Airways and the debt refinanced by other lenders during the merger.[16]

On May 1, 2002, America West ended its partnership with Continental Airlines, citing low code-shared flight sales.[citation needed]

In 2003, America West Airlines closed its Port Columbus hub, reducing scheduled daily flights from almost 50 to 4.[citation needed]

### US Airways

[edit]

Main article: America West merger with US Airways

An Airbus A320 in the 2005-2015 America West / US Airways livery at San Diego International Airport A traveler boards an America West Express CRJ-200 regional jet operated by Mesa Airlines

In the second quarter of 2005, America West entered merger negotiations with then-bankrupt US Airways. It was structured as a purchase of US Airways by America West Holdings; however, the internal structure was a reverse merger, with legacy US Airways operations taken over by those of America West.

As the holding companies merged, brand conversion began. The America West Club was renamed the US Airways Club in October 2005. All-new America West aircraft were delivered in the new US Airways livery, and older aircraft repainted (while retaining America West interiors). Gates and ticket counters were consolidated at airports where both airlines had operated, aided by the March 2007 transfer of all US Airways reservations to the Shares computer system used by America West (US Airways had previously used a very different Sabre system).

All express flights were branded as US Airways Express and aircraft were no longer confined to operations out of their pre-merger hubs (America West aircraft could fly from Philadelphia to cities other than Phoenix and Las Vegas, for example). The two airlines' operating certificates were merged on September 25, 2007. After initially using the "CACTUS" callsign for the west fleet and "USAIR" for the east fleet, all aircraft began flying under a single "CACTUS" callsign and ICAO code "AWE" in September 2008. Meanwhile, US Airways abandoned Las Vegas as its hub. Former America West aircraft were distinguished apart from US Airways pre-merger aircraft by their use of registrations ending in "-AW", while pre-merger US Airways aircraft used registrations ending in "-US". US Airways would later merge with American Airlines in 2013, with the former America West callsign and ICAO code retired in 2015 (alongside with the US Airways brand). America West's Phoenix hub has remained intact with American Airlines.

## Fleet

[edit]

### Final fleet

[edit]

America West Airlines 757-200 in 2006

As of September 27, 2005, at the time of the merger, America West Airlines' fleet consisted of the following aircraft:[17]

America West Airlines fleet  Aircraft  | In
service  | Passengers  | Notes

|
|
|

C | Y | Total
Airbus A319-100 | 34  | 12  | 112  | 124  | All were transferred to US Airways and later American Airlines.
Airbus A320-200 | 57  | 12  | 138  | 140
Boeing 737-300 | 36  | 8  | 126  | 134  | All were transferred to US Airways and later retired in 2012.
Boeing 757-200 | 13  | 14  | 176  | 190  | All were transferred to US Airways and later retired by American Airlines in 2020.
Total  | 140  |

### Retired fleet

[edit]

America West Airlines previously operated the following aircraft:[17]

America West Airlines retired fleet  Aircraft  | Total  | Introduced  | Retired  | Notes

|
|
|
|

Boeing 737-100 | 5  | 1984  | 1999  |
Boeing 737-200 | 62  | 1983  | 2005  |
Boeing 747-200B | 4  | 1989  | 1994  |
de Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 | 12  | 1987  | 1993  | Transferred to Mesa Airlines.

### America West Express aircraft

[edit]

Main article: America West Express § Fleet

America West Express services primarily operated by Mesa Airlines via a code sharing agreement with America West utilized the following regional jet and turboprop aircraft.

### Cancelled and planned orders

[edit]

In 1991, America West had plans for purchasing 4 Boeing 747-400 aircraft to replace the aging 747-200s in Honolulu service, but an order of 10 further Boeing 757-200s was also mentioned.[18] Furthermore, it was in the plans to purchase 15 Airbus A318s in the late 1990s aside with their new orders of A320s at the time but this never came to fruition.[19] America West had also planned on announcing an order of 60 aircraft on September 12, 2001, but this was quickly retracted after the September 11th attacks.[20]

## FlightFund

[edit]

The airline had a frequent flyer program called FlightFund.[21] In 2006, FlightFund was merged into the US Airways Dividend Miles program, which in turn merged into the American Airlines AAdvantage program in 2015.

## Destinations

[edit]

The following is a list airports that America West Airlines flew to as of September 24, 2007 (at the time of merger with US Airways).

Country  | City  | Airport  | Notes  | Refs

|
|
|
|

Canada (Alberta) | Calgary | Calgary International Airport |  |
Edmonton | Edmonton International Airport |  |
Canada (British Columbia) | Vancouver | Vancouver International Airport |  |
Cranbrook | Canadian Rockies International Airport | Charter |
Canada (Ontario) | Toronto | Toronto Pearson International Airport |  |
Costa Rica | San José | Juan Santamaría International Airport |  |
Japan | Nagoya[a] | Nagoya Airfield | Terminated | [22]
Mexico (Baja California) | Los Cabos | Los Cabos International Airport |  |
Mexico (Colima) | Manzanillo | Playa de Oro International Airport | Seasonal |
Mexico (Federal District) | Mexico City | Mexico City International Airport |  |
Mexico (Guerrero) | Acapulco | General Juan N. Álvarez International Airport |  |
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo | Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport | Seasonal |
Mexico (Jalisco) | Guadalajara | Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport |  |
Puerto Vallarta | Lic. Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport |  |
Mexico (Nuevo León) | Monterrey | General Mariano Escobedo International Airport | Terminated |
Mexico (Quintana Roo) | Cancún | Cancún International Airport |  |
Mexico (Sinaloa) | Mazatlán | General Rafael Buelna International Airport |  |
Mexico (Sonora) | Guaymas | Guaymas International Airport |  |
Hermosillo | General Ignacio Pesqueira Garcia International Airport |  |
United States (Alaska) | Anchorage | Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport |  |
United States (Arizona) | Grand Canyon National Park | Grand Canyon National Park Airport | Terminated |
Flagstaff | Flagstaff Pulliam Airport | Terminated |
Phoenix | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport | Hub |
Tucson | Tucson International Airport |  |
Yuma | Yuma International Airport | Terminated |
United States (California) | Burbank | Hollywood Burbank Airport |  |
Carlsbad | McClellan–Palomar Airport |  |
Fresno | Fresno Yosemite International Airport |  |
Long Beach | Long Beach Airport |  |
Los Angeles | Los Angeles International Airport |  |
Oakland | San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport |  |
Ontario | Ontario International Airport |  |
Palm Springs | Palm Springs International Airport |  |
Palmdale | Palmdale Regional Airport | Terminated |
Sacramento | Sacramento International Airport |  |
San Diego | San Diego International Airport |  |
San Francisco | San Francisco International Airport |  |
San Jose | San Jose Mineta International Airport |  |
San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport |  |
Santa Ana | John Wayne Airport |  |
Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara Municipal Airport |  |
United States (Colorado) | Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs Airport |  |
Denver | Denver International Airport |  |
Stapleton International Airport | Airport Closed |
Durango | Durango-La Plata County Airport |  |
Eagle/Vail | Eagle County Regional Airport | Terminated |
Grand Junction | Grand Junction Regional Airport |  |
Hayden/Steamboat Springs | Yampa Valley Airport | Terminated |
Montrose | Montrose Regional Airport | Terminated |
Pueblo | Pueblo Memorial Airport | Terminated |
United States (Connecticut) | Hartford | Bradley International Airport |  |
United States (Florida) | Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport |  |
Fort Myers | Southwest Florida International AirportSeasonal | Terminated |
Miami | Miami International Airport |  |
Orlando | Orlando International Airport |  |
Tampa | Tampa International Airport |  |
West Palm Beach | Palm Beach International Airport |  |
United States (Georgia) | Atlanta | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |  |
United States (Hawaii) | Honolulu | Daniel K. Inouye International Airport |  |
United States (Idaho) | Boise | Boise Airport |  |
Sun Valley[b] | Friedman Memorial Airport | Terminated |
United States (Illinois) | Chicago | Midway International Airport | Terminated |
O'Hare International Airport |  |
Moline | Quad Cities International Airport | Terminated |
United States (Indiana) | Indianapolis | Indianapolis International Airport |  |
United States (Iowa) | Cedar Rapids | The Eastern Iowa Airport | Terminated |
Des Moines | Des Moines International Airport | Terminated |
Sioux City | Sioux Gateway Airport | Terminated |
United States (Kansas) | Wichita | Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport | Terminated |
United States (Louisiana) | New Orleans[c] | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport | Terminated |
United States (Maryland) | Baltimore | Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport |  |
United States (Massachusetts) | Boston | Logan International Airport |  |
United States (Michigan) | Detroit | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport |  |
United States (Minnesota) | Minneapolis/Saint Paul | Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport |  |
United States (Missouri) | Kansas City | Kansas City International Airport |  |
Springfield | Springfield–Branson National Airport | Terminated |
St. Louis | St. Louis Lambert International Airport |  |
United States (Montana) | Kalispell | Glacier Park International Airport |  |
United States (Nebraska) | Lincoln | Lincoln Municipal Airport | Terminated |
Omaha | Eppley Airfield |  |
United States (Nevada) | Las Vegas | McCarran International Airport | Hub |
Reno | Reno–Tahoe International Airport |  |
United States (New Jersey) | Newark | Newark Liberty International Airport |  |
United States (New Mexico) | Albuquerque | Albuquerque International Sunport |  |
United States (New York) | New York City | John F. Kennedy International Airport |  |
LaGuardia Airport | Terminated |
United States (North Carolina) | Raleigh/Durham | Raleigh–Durham International Airport |  |
United States (Ohio) | Cleveland | Cleveland Hopkins International Airport |  |
Columbus | John Glenn Columbus International Airport | Hub |
United States (Oklahoma) | Oklahoma City | Will Rogers World Airport |  |
United States (Oregon) | Portland | Portland International Airport |  |
United States (Pennsylvania) | Philadelphia | Philadelphia International Airport |  |
Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh International Airport |  |
United States (Tennessee) | Memphis | Memphis International Airport |  |
United States (Texas) | Austin | Austin–Bergstrom International Airport |  |
Dallas/Fort Worth | Dallas Fort Worth International Airport |  |
El Paso | El Paso International Airport |  |
Houston | George Bush Intercontinental Airport |  |
Lubbock | Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport | Terminated |
Midland/Odessa | Midland International Air and Space Port | Terminated |
San Antonio | San Antonio International Airport |  |
United States (Utah) | Salt Lake City | Salt Lake City International Airport |  |
United States (Virginia) | Washington, D.C. area | Dulles International Airport |  |
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport |  |
United States (Washington) | Seattle/Tacoma | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport |  |
Spokane | Spokane International Airport |  |
United States (Wisconsin) | Milwaukee | Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport |  |

## Codeshare agreements

[edit]

Throughout its existence, America West had codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

* Big Sky Airlines
* British Airways[23]
* Chautauqua Airlines (operating as America West Express' regional jet feeder service at the former Columbus hub)
* Continental Airlines (ended on May 1, 2002, citing low code-shared flight sales)[24]
* EVA Air
* Hawaiian Airlines (on services to Kahului, Kailua-Kona, and Lihue)[25]
* Mesa Airlines (operating as America West Express' regional jet and turboprop feeder service at America West hubs)
* Northwest Airlines (codeshared on flights from Asia)
* Qantas (ended February 28, 2007)
* Royal Jordanian Airlines
* Trans World Airlines
* US Airways (Merger partner)
* Virgin Atlantic

## Headquarters

[edit]

The headquarters of America West Airlines in Tempe, which also served as the headquarters for US Airways post-acquisition

America West had its headquarters in Tempe, Arizona from the airline's start in 1983 and it retained the same location when it merged with US Airways and retained the US Airways name.[26] The airline used the nine-story[27] 225,000-square-foot (20,900 m2) building as its headquarters once America West and US Airways merged,[28] but the building has since been vacated when US Airways' management team took over American Airlines in an acquisition. Jahna Berry of the Arizona Business Gazette said in 2005 that the building "is one of the dominant buildings in downtown Tempe."[26] The City of Tempe gave America West $11 million in incentives and tax breaks so it could occupy the headquarters, which cost $37 million to construct.[29] The construction of the building began in January 1998; the groundbreaking ceremony was held on February 19 of that year.[30] The previous America West headquarters were demolished.[31]

## Other commercial interests

[edit]

America West had promotional partnerships with the Phoenix Suns NBA team, the 2001 World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team, and the Arizona Cardinals NFL team.

In 1992, America West paid $26 million for the 30-year naming rights of the Phoenix Suns' home court, which it named America West Arena. Since the merger with US Airways, the arena was called US Airways Center (not to be confused with the USAir Arena in Prince George's County, Maryland, razed in 2002), until it was renamed to Talking Stick Resort arena.

## Accidents and incidents

[edit]

America West had four in-flight incidents on its aircraft, but never had an accident resulting in a fatality. Two accidents resulted in hull loss write-offs.

Flight  | Date  | Aircraft  | Location  | Descriptions  | Injuries

|
|
|
|
|

America West Airlines Flight 450  | December 30, 1989  | 737-200  | Tucson, Arizona | A fire in the wheel well burned through hydraulic conduit; consequently, during landing, braking was ineffective and the aircraft overran the end of the runway. After colliding with a concrete structure, the plane came to a stop. The aircraft was written off. NTSB probable cause | 10 minor
America West Airlines Flight 727  | January 16, 1990  | 737-300  | Austin, Texas | On January 16, 1990, America West Flight 727 was hijacked en route to Las Vegas from Houston. The hijacker forced the pilot to land the aircraft in Austin, Texas, so it could be refueled and flown to Cuba. Austin police overpowered and arrested the hijacker.  | none
America West Airlines Flight 556 | July 1, 2002  | A319-100  | Miami, Florida | The flight was halted by Transportation Security Administration and local police after a tip that the pilots appeared to be drunk. Sobriety tests showed that the pilots were legally intoxicated and they were eventually sentenced to prison for operating an aircraft while intoxicated.  | none
America West Flight Airlines 794  | August 28, 2002  | A320-231  | Phoenix, Arizona | The pilot failed to maintain directional control during landing, causing the aircraft to veer off the side of the runway onto a dirt infield, where the nose gear strut collapsed. The aircraft was written off. NTSB brief | 1 serious, 9 minor

## See also

[edit]

* List of defunct airlines of the United States

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ According to the US Airways page, in 1991 as the United States entered the Gulf War, the Prime Minister of Japan told the Japanese people not to fly on United States airlines, thus causing a drop in traffic. America West then ceased flying Boeing 747 service the Nagoya-Honolulu route and sold the traffic rights to Northwest Airlines.
2. ^ America West was the only airline ever to serve Sun Valley with Boeing 737 jet aircraft.
3. ^ Service was abruptly halted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 and the Phoenix-New Orleans route never resumed following the merger with US Airways.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Norwood, Tom; Wegg, John (2002). North American Airlines Handbook (3rd ed.). Sandpoint, Idaho: Airways International. ISBN 978-0965399388. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
2. ^ Alexander, Keith L. (May 20, 2005). "US Airways To Merge, Move Base To Arizona". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
3. ^ Bartz, Diane; Jacobs, Karen (July 1, 2013). "State Attorneys General Join Probe Of American Airlines, U.S. Airways Merger". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
4. ^ Gilbertson, Dawn (April 10, 2015). "'Cactus' call sign fades into US Airways history". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix.
5. ^ a b "America West Holdings Corporation". Funding Universe. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
6. ^ Timetable maps showing America West routes in 1983, 1984, and 1991
7. ^ Beauvais, Ed (2016). Up, Up And Away, From The Beginning to My Journey's End 1981-1992. Scottsdale, AZ: Ed Beauvais. p. 28\. ISBN 978-0-692-45268-4.
8. ^ Pilot salary history, MIT Study
9. ^ Ansett gets 20pc of American airline Canberra Times June 19, 1987, page 14.
10. ^ a b The Story of the Rise and Fall of Ansett 1936-2002. Fyshwick: Stewart Wilson Aerospace Publications. 2002. pp. 19, 21, 34, 37, 38. ISBN 978-1875671571.
11. ^ Quig, Brian Downing (September 1, 1991). "The Phoenix-Bangkok Heroin Connection". Monetary and Economic Review. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
12. ^ Bounds, Jeff (July–August 2015). "How Doug Parker Has Transformed American Airlines". D Magazine.
13. ^ Wald, Matthew L. (July 15, 1998). "America West Airline Fined $2.5 Million for Violations". The New York Times. p. A16. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
14. ^ "FAA May Ground America West". ABC News. January 7, 2006.
15. ^ "Air Transportation Stabilization Board Conditionally Approves Application By America West" (Press release). Department of The Treasury. December 28, 2001. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008.
16. ^ US Air Uses Cash To Buy Back ATSB StockAviation Week October 2005. Archived March 13, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
17. ^ a b "America West Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. August 9, 2021. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
18. ^ "America West Reconsidering $1.5 Billion in Boeing Orders". AP NEWS. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
19. ^ "America West to Sign For Up to 77 Airbus Aircraft Airline Joins Growing List of Customers for A318". www.defense-aerospace.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
20. ^ "History of America West". Archived from the original on September 1, 2018.
21. ^ "Welcome to FlightFund". America West Airlines. Archived from the original on October 22, 1996. Retrieved October 1, 2009.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
22. ^ "US Airways: A Heritage Story," US Airways
23. ^ "British Airways ends code-share with America West". Cheapflights. September 9, 2005. Archived from the original on February 27, 2007.
24. ^ "Continental Ends Ticket Alliance With America West". The New York Times. Bloomberg News. March 28, 2002.
25. ^ "America West Airlines route map". October 23, 2020.
26. ^ a b Berry, Jahna (June 2, 2005). "Tempe breathes a sigh on AmWest merger plan." Arizona Business Gazette. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
27. ^ "Phoenix mostly shrugs at prospect of Delta merger." Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 19, 2006. A1. Retrieved on March 1, 2010. "More than 700 people work at US Airways' nine-story headquarters."
28. ^ "Article: Carey Diversified Finances America West Headquarters; $25 Million Non-Recourse Mortgage Secured by Recently Completed Facility.[dead link]" PR Newswire. July 27, 1999. Retrieved on March 1, 2010.
29. ^ "United-America West Deal Has Implications Across The West". Lodi News-Sentinel. Associated Press. January 22, 1999. p. 13. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
30. ^ "America West Completes Financing of New Corporate Headquarters[dead link]." PR Newswire. February 19, 1998. Retrieved on March 1, 2010.
31. ^ Lehman, William. "Part VII - America West." US Airways. Retrieved on February 18, 2010.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to America West Airlines at Wikimedia Commons
* America West Airlines at the Wayback Machine (archive index)

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* Air Transport International
* AirNet Express
* Alaska Central Express
* Aloha Air Cargo
* Alpine Air Express
* Amazon Air
* Ameriflight
* Amerijet International
* Ameristar Jet Charter
* Asia Pacific Airlines
* Atlas Air
* Baron Aviation Services
* Bemidji Airlines
* Castle Aviation
* Corporate Air
* CSA Air
* Empire Airlines
* Everts Air Cargo
* FedEx Express
* Freight Runners Express
* Kalitta Air
* Kalitta Charters II
* Lynden Air Cargo
* Martinaire
* Merlin Airways
* Mountain Air Cargo
* National Airlines
* Northern Air Cargo
* Polar Air Cargo
* Royal Air Freight
* Ryan Air Services
* Sky Lease Cargo
* Transair
* UPS Airlines
* USA Jet Airlines
* West Air
* Western Global Airlines
* Wiggins Airways

Charter|

* Air Charter Bahamas
* Airstream Jets
* Alerion Aviation
* Berry Aviation
* Bighorn Airways
* Choice Airways
* Contour Aviation
* Eastern Airlines
* ExcelAire
* Gryphon Airlines
* Hillwood Airways
* IBC Airways
* KaiserAir
* L-3 Flight International Aviation
* NetJets
* New Pacific Airlines
* Omni Air International
* Pacific Coast Jet
* Pentastar Aviation
* Phoenix Air
* PlaneSense
* Presidential Airways
* Regional Sky
* Sierra Pacific Airlines
* Skymax
* Superior Air Charter
* Superior Aviation
* Talkeetna Air Taxi
* Wheels Up
* World Atlantic Airlines
* XOJET

Air taxi and tours|

* Gem Air
* Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines
* Griffing Flying Service
* Utah Airways

Air ambulance|

* Air Evac Lifeteam
* AirMed International
* Air Methods
* Boston MedFlight
* Critical Air Medicine
* Life Flight Network
* Lifestar
* Petroleum Helicopters International

Government|

* Comco
* Janet
* JPATS
* Patriot Express

* List of airline holding companies
* List of airline mergers and acquisitions
* List of defunct airlines of the United States

* v
* t
* e

American Airlines Group

Airlines|

* American Airlines
* Envoy Air
* destinations
* Piedmont Airlines
* PSA Airlines

Heritage airlines|

* Air California
* American Overseas Airlines
* Executive Airlines
* Metro Airlines
* Reno Air
* Simmons Airlines
* Trans Caribbean Airways
* Trans World Airlines
* US Airways
*       * destinations
* fleet
* livery
* All American Aviation
* Allegheny Airlines
* America West Airlines
* Lake Central Airlines
* MetroJet
* MidAtlantic Airways
* Mohawk Airlines
* Piedmont Airlines
* Pacific Southwest Airlines
* Trump Shuttle

Former holding companies|

* AMR Corporation
* US Airways Group
* America West Holdings

Former marketing brands|

* US Airways Express
* destinations
* US Airways Shuttle
* America West Express

List of airline holding companies

* v
* t
* e

American Airlines

Oneworld member

Mergers and
acquisitions|

* Air California
* All American Aviation
* Allegheny Airlines
* America West Airlines
* American Overseas Airlines
* Empire Airlines
* Executive Airlines
* Lake Central Airlines
* Marquette Airlines
* MetroJet
* MidAtlantic Airways
* Mohawk Airlines
* Ozark Air Lines
* Pacific Southwest Airlines
* Parks Air Lines
* Piedmont Airlines
* Reno Air
* Simmons Airlines
* Trans Caribbean Airways
* Trans World Airlines
* Trump Shuttle
* US Airways

Facilities|

* AA Arena
* AA Center
* C.R. Smith Museum

Programs|

* AAdvantage
* AAirpass

Brands|

* American Airlines Shuttle
* American Eagle

Incidents|

| American
Airlines|

* Flight 1
* 1941
* 1962
* Flight 2
* Flight 009
* Flight 11
* Flight 28
* Flight 63
* July 1943
* October 1943
* December 2001
* Flight 77
* Flight 96
* Flight 102
* Flight 157
* Flight 191
* Flight 293
* Flight 320
* Flight 327
* Flight 331
* Flight 383
* 1965
* 2016
* Flight 444
* Flight 476
* Flight 514
* Flight 587
* Flight 625
* Flight 711
* Flight 723
* Flight 910
* Flight 924
* Flight 965
* Flight 1420
* Flight 1502
* Flight 1572
* Flight 6001
* Flight 6780

|

American
Eagle|

* Flight 3378
* Flight 3379
* Flight 4184
* Flight 5452
* Flight 5456

American
Connection|

* Flight 5966

People|

* Gerard Arpey
* Donald J. Carty
* Albert V. Casey
* O. Roy Chalk
* E. L. Cord
* Robert Crandall
* Thomas W. Horton
* Doug Parker
* C. R. Smith
* George A. Spater

Organizations|

* Allied Pilots Association
* Association of Professional Flight Attendants
* TWU-IAM Association
* CWA/Teamsters Passenger Service Association

Related|

* History of American Airlines
* Fleet
* American Airlines Group
* AMR Corporation
* American Way
* Celebrated Living
* Reservisor
* Sabre
* Transpacific Route Case

* Category

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

*[C]: Business
*[Y]: Economy
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