America West and US Air Agree to merge

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Jeff Hacker wrote:

"GG1" wrote in message
ps.com...
It should be iteresting. HP has posted a map of what the combined
network would look like as of now. See
http://www.americawest.com/aboutawa/.../combo_map.pdf

I wonder if there will be any over flying of each others' hubs (after
the merger) to destinations not currently served by the respective
airlines. Are there any worthwhile destinations from PHX, PHL or CLT to
do this? A PHL-SJD flight perhaps or PHX-LGW (BA may still run that
route). perhaps savings will allow expansion into or across the Pacific
on some routes. Hawaii might be a nice destination although TZ does do
PHX-HNL and PHX-OGG.

HP used to operate PHX and LAS to Hawaii, but discontinued the service about
10 years ago. The new merged company plans to institute service to Hawaii,
so I would look for that pretty quickly after the merger goes through.

Also with this, roughly about 10 - 15 years ago, AWE ran a 742
from LAS or PHX to Narita or Haneda (I'm not sure which), and possibly
via HNL. I could see this route returning with an A330 or A350, giving
JAL and NWA competition on that route, or even PAL to Manila.

BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email:
Unix Systems Administrator, |
Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! | http://www.sbcglobal.net/~tyketto
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"A Guy Called Tyketto" wrote in message
. com...
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Hash: SHA1

Jeff Hacker wrote:

"GG1" wrote in message
ps.com...
It should be iteresting. HP has posted a map of what the combined
network would look like as of now. See
http://www.americawest.com/aboutawa/.../combo_map.pdf

I wonder if there will be any over flying of each others' hubs (after
the merger) to destinations not currently served by the respective
airlines. Are there any worthwhile destinations from PHX, PHL or CLT to
do this? A PHL-SJD flight perhaps or PHX-LGW (BA may still run that
route). perhaps savings will allow expansion into or across the Pacific
on some routes. Hawaii might be a nice destination although TZ does do
PHX-HNL and PHX-OGG.

HP used to operate PHX and LAS to Hawaii, but discontinued the service
about
10 years ago. The new merged company plans to institute service to
Hawaii,
so I would look for that pretty quickly after the merger goes through.

Also with this, roughly about 10 - 15 years ago, AWE ran a 742
from LAS or PHX to Narita or Haneda (I'm not sure which), and possibly
via HNL. I could see this route returning with an A330 or A350, giving
JAL and NWA competition on that route, or even PAL to Manila.

Actually, they went to Nagoya, not Tokyo. When America West went into
Chapter 11, they sold the Nagoya route to Northwest.

BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email:
Unix Systems Administrator, |
Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! | http://www.sbcglobal.net/~tyketto
PGP: 1024D/E319F0BF 6980 AAD6 7329 E9E6 D569 F620 C819 199A E319 F0BF

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Scary thought is the below info: Transition to all-Airbus International
Fleet.

-----http://161.58.184.45/merger/news/index.html

Fleet/Route System
US Airways/US Airways Express currently serves 179 cities and America
West/America West Express serves 96 cities. When merged, the combined
airline will become the nation’s fifth largest airline, as measured by
domestic Available Seat Miles (ASMs). The combined airline is expected
to operate a mainline fleet of 361 planes (supported by 239 regional
jets and 57 turboprops for feed into the mainline system), down from a
total of 419 mainline aircraft operated by both airlines at the
beginning of 2005.

US Airways projects returning 25 additional aircraft by the end of 2006,
in addition to the 46 aircraft that US Airways already has announced it
plans to return. Nearly all of the aircraft are being returned to
General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). The combined airline
also will take delivery of 13 Airbus A320 family aircraft previously
ordered by America West Airlines. Airbus has also agreed to reschedule
and reconfirm 30 narrow body A320-family aircraft deliveries from 2006 -
2008 to 2009 - 2010. To rationalize international flying, the merged
company will work with Airbus to transition to an all-Airbus
international fleet of A330 aircraft and, beginning in 2011, A350 aircraft.

Once fully integrated, the airline plans to have primary hubs in
Charlotte, Phoenix and Philadelphia, and secondary hubs in Las Vegas and
Pittsburgh. The merged airline plans to have focus cities in Boston, New
York/LaGuardia, Washington, D.C., and Fort Lauderdale.

Looks like HP is going to do Hawaii with or without US. See
http://starbulletin.com/2005/06/05/business/story2.html or read below:

America West makes its move on Hawaii market
By Dave Segal

Hawaiian Airlines, which repeatedly has talked about defending its turf
after emerging from bankruptcy, already has its first challenger.

One of its code-share partners, America West, is planning to take on
Hawaiian's territory as early as the end of this year by offering daily
nonstop flights to Hawaii from Phoenix and Las Vegas -- cities that
Hawaiian already serves.

It's a scenario that former Hawaiian trustee Joshua Gotbaum warned
about last week when he said the company's biggest competition would
come from other airlines entering the Hawaii market.

America West, which announced May 19 that it plans to merge with
bankrupt US Airways, has been training its personnel on overwater
procedures so that the company can get the necessary certification to
fly to Hawaii. The company also needs an exemption to the requirement
that planes stay within 60 minutes of a suitable airport.

Carlo Bertolini, spokes-man for America West, said the airline will
enter the Hawaii market whether or not its merger with US Airways
succeeds.

A bankruptcy judge ruled last week that other bidders for US Airways
have until July 1 to enter a proposal.

"The training was going on for months before the merger announcement,"
Bertolini said. "I think it's no secret Hawaii is one of the most
popular leisure destinations. (America West is) very popular among
leisure travelers because of our competitive fares."

Bertolini said America West, which has a fleet of 143 planes, will use
some or all of its 13 Boeing 757s to fly to Hawaii. The planes seat 190
passengers, including 14 in first class.

Hawaiian Chief Executive Mark Dunkerley, who was elevated to the
position on Thursday after Hawaiian emerged from bankruptcy, declined
to comment on how America West's presence could affect Hawaiian.

However, he told a large group of employees on Tuesday during a
coming-out-of-bankruptcy celebration that Hawaiian has the capability
to adapt quickly to changes.

"We're a much more nimble company," he said. "Our operations are
simplified. We can react much more quickly. We're in a position to
communicate better and we're ever more resourceful."

Hawaiian Airlines and America West entered a code-share and marketing
partnership in 2002 to allow both carriers to let customers fly their
combined routes. Code sharing allows a carrier to sell flights on
another carrier as its own.

Aloha Airlines, which has been in bankruptcy since late last year and
also flies to Las Vegas, was undaunted by America West's pronouncement.

"We're a low-cost carrier and we welcome competition," Aloha spokesman
Stu Glauberman said.

Bertolini said America West hasn't completed its certification process
but that "it's possible" it could begin service to Hawaii late this
year.

"Phoenix and Las Vegas are our hubs and it's likely they'll be
involved, but I don't know yet what the order of cities would be in
Hawaii (once service begins)," Bertolini said.

He said he couldn't confirm a timetable that appeared in the Arizona
Republic newspaper that America West would begin daily nonstop service
to Honolulu from Phoenix and Las Vegas early next year, followed by
daily nonstop service from Phoenix to Maui.

The newspaper also said that America West planned to add service to the
Big Island and Kauai from Phoenix later next year.

Bertolini said that America West, which bills itself as the
second-largest low-cost carrier behind Southwest, has made no decision
on the status of its code-share with Hawaiian.

He said the two airlines can co-exist even as competitors.

"It's not uncommon in an industry to have vigorous competition while
having an arrangement that's beneficial to both customers," he said.