America West Airlines

America West Airlines
Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Airline	America West Airlines
IATA	HP
ICAO	AWE
Callsign	Cactus
Hubs	Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Focus cities	Las Vegas McCarran International Airport
Frequent flyer	FlightFund
Alliance	Star Alliance
Founded	1981
Ceased	2007
Headquarters	Tempe, Arizona

America West Airlines was a major United States airline that operated from 1981 to 2007, with its main hub at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and a focus city at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. The airline was founded by Ed Beauvais, Bob Higgins, Mike Conway, Kurt Keller, Diane Patterson, Gregory Wells, and Richard Clark (businessman) in 1981, with initial funding from Michael Dingman and Richard Ferris (businessman). America West Airlines was a key player in the US airline industry, competing with major carriers such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines. The airline's operations were also influenced by the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, which was signed into law by Jimmy Carter.

● History

America West Airlines began operations on August 1, 1981, with a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, flying to destinations such as Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Los Angeles, California. The airline expanded rapidly, adding new routes and increasing its fleet size, with the support of investors such as Michael Milken and Drexel Burnham Lambert. In the 1990s, America West Airlines faced significant challenges, including increased competition from Southwest Airlines and Northwest Airlines, as well as the 1990-1991 recession. However, the airline was able to recover and continue growing, with the help of Bill Franke, who served as the airline's CEO from 1992 to 2001. During this period, America West Airlines also partnered with Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines to offer codeshare flights to destinations such as Tokyo, Japan and London, England.

● Fleet

The America West Airlines fleet consisted of a variety of aircraft, including the Boeing 737-200, Boeing 737-300, and Airbus A320-200. The airline also operated a number of Bombardier CRJ-200 and Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jets, which were used for short-haul flights to destinations such as Denver, Colorado and Seattle, Washington. In addition, America West Airlines had a codeshare agreement with Mesa Airlines, which operated a number of Bombardier CRJ-900 and Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft on behalf of the airline. The airline's fleet was maintained by a team of technicians and engineers, who were trained at facilities such as the Purdue University and the University of Southern California.

● Destinations

America West Airlines operated flights to a number of destinations in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, including New York City, Chicago, Illinois, Houston, Texas, and Vancouver, British Columbia. The airline also offered codeshare flights to international destinations such as Paris, France, Frankfurt, Germany, and Sydney, Australia, in partnership with airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, and Qantas. In addition, America West Airlines had a significant presence in the Southwest United States, with flights to destinations such as Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tucson, Arizona, and Reno, Nevada. The airline's route network was also influenced by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1993.

● Merger_with_US_Airways

In 2005, America West Airlines merged with US Airways, with the combined airline operating under the US Airways name. The merger was led by Doug Parker (businessman), who served as the CEO of America West Airlines at the time, and Bruce Lakefield, who was the CEO of US Airways. The combined airline had a significant presence in the US airline industry, with a fleet of over 350 aircraft and a route network that spanned the United States, Canada, and Latin America. The merger was also influenced by the Air Transportation Stabilization Board, which was established by the US Congress in 2001 to provide financial assistance to airlines affected by the September 11 attacks.

● Operations

America West Airlines operated a hub-and-spoke model, with its main hub at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and a focus city at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. The airline's operations were supported by a team of employees, including pilots, flight attendants, and ground crew, who were trained at facilities such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). America West Airlines also had a number of codeshare agreements with other airlines, including Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, which allowed passengers to access a wider range of destinations and flights. The airline's operations were also influenced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which was established by the US Congress in 2001 to oversee security in the US transportation system.

● Incidents_and_Accidents

America West Airlines was involved in a number of incidents and accidents during its operation, including a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation into the airline's maintenance practices in 1998. The airline was also fined by the US Department of Transportation for violating Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) in 2002. In addition, America West Airlines was involved in a number of accidents, including a Boeing 737-200 that overran the runway at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in 1999, and a Bombardier CRJ-200 that experienced a hard landing at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport in 2001. The airline's safety record was also influenced by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which investigated a number of accidents and incidents involving America West Airlines aircraft.

Category:Defunct airlines of the United States