US Airways Merges with America West
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US Airways Merges with America West
Today @ 1800 (EST/GMT-5) US Airways announced it's official merger with America West. The merger is said to take upto a year to complete. They have not yet said which name they will keep or weather or not they will change the name and paint schemes completely. America West has been interested in the US Airways Boeings and US Airways needs all the help they can get to stay in Business.
The new airline will be a launch customer for the Airbus A350. See: https://www.aviation24.be/article8707.html
André
ex Sabena #26567
ex Sabena #26567
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cathayoneworld
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concordino
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B744skipper
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I agree with Squalo, the US Airways paint scheme does look absolutely stunning; it gives me the feeling of a very business-like airline. I love it! 
On a side note, imagine how a sharktail B787 would have looked in this US Airways' color scheme, it would have looked too good to be true!
But it is certainly good news to hear that they will be the launch customer for the A350, at least the A330 does looks very nice in the US Airways' scheme also. Are there already more details about this A350 order known?
Does anyone knows why America West is interested in the US Airways' Boeing 737's? It makes me wonder since America West already operates the A320 family on their own. Will America West operate a low-cost style business for US Airways (with the B737's)? Or I could see that the B737 go to America West (or what used to be the America West part of now US Airways), while America West’s A320 family aircrafts would go to US Airways, since they seem to return some of their own to the lessors.
And I see that they will downsize the fleet from 419 to 361 mainline aircraft, is the A320 family the only type to take the blows or will other aircraft also be returned/sold/parked/shot into space?
But since the US Airways' brand will be retained and the new company will be based on them, I think it is right to assume that America West ---> which is now US Airways, will be part of the Star Alliance?
But maybe it is a bit too early to get the right answers yet, it takes time to see how things will develop. Let's hope that it will work out and that it will have benefits for the US airline industry (since downsizing is the only way to resolve the structural problems of too many seats seems in the market, and that is exactly what the new US Airways will be doing, and more US airlines should consider this).
To come to an end, could this send a new consolidation wave through the US airline industry? Maybe that in the future more mergers are likely to come? United and Continental, or Delta and Continental, just to name a few possibilities (not looking at the realism). Or maybe even a European and US based airline?
What do you think, could we see more mergers then?
On a side note, imagine how a sharktail B787 would have looked in this US Airways' color scheme, it would have looked too good to be true!
But it is certainly good news to hear that they will be the launch customer for the A350, at least the A330 does looks very nice in the US Airways' scheme also. Are there already more details about this A350 order known?
Does anyone knows why America West is interested in the US Airways' Boeing 737's? It makes me wonder since America West already operates the A320 family on their own. Will America West operate a low-cost style business for US Airways (with the B737's)? Or I could see that the B737 go to America West (or what used to be the America West part of now US Airways), while America West’s A320 family aircrafts would go to US Airways, since they seem to return some of their own to the lessors.
And I see that they will downsize the fleet from 419 to 361 mainline aircraft, is the A320 family the only type to take the blows or will other aircraft also be returned/sold/parked/shot into space?
But since the US Airways' brand will be retained and the new company will be based on them, I think it is right to assume that America West ---> which is now US Airways, will be part of the Star Alliance?
But maybe it is a bit too early to get the right answers yet, it takes time to see how things will develop. Let's hope that it will work out and that it will have benefits for the US airline industry (since downsizing is the only way to resolve the structural problems of too many seats seems in the market, and that is exactly what the new US Airways will be doing, and more US airlines should consider this).
To come to an end, could this send a new consolidation wave through the US airline industry? Maybe that in the future more mergers are likely to come? United and Continental, or Delta and Continental, just to name a few possibilities (not looking at the realism). Or maybe even a European and US based airline?
What do you think, could we see more mergers then?
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concordino
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I too like the US AW colour scheme but it has to be kept in good condition. Many of the current USAW 737's look decidely tatty and do not present a good corporate image to customers.
America West operate B737's (and 757's - a few in special c/s) in addition to their Airbus fleet so fleet commonality for the 2 airlines is not going to be too problematic. AW express use CRJ 2/7 & 9 whereas USAW Express are mostly ERJ's but as these are franchise operated (and geographically miles apart) this should cause little problem.
I am not a lover of the Am West c/s (except the 757 specials) but do think their ethos seems good. Lets hope the USAW c/s and the AW business practices will combine well to make real competion for the other US majors.
America West operate B737's (and 757's - a few in special c/s) in addition to their Airbus fleet so fleet commonality for the 2 airlines is not going to be too problematic. AW express use CRJ 2/7 & 9 whereas USAW Express are mostly ERJ's but as these are franchise operated (and geographically miles apart) this should cause little problem.
I am not a lover of the Am West c/s (except the 757 specials) but do think their ethos seems good. Lets hope the USAW c/s and the AW business practices will combine well to make real competion for the other US majors.
