America West Holdings

America West Holdings Corporation was an Arizona-based company whose primary holding was America West Airlines. On May 19, 2005, America West Holdings Corporation announced it would acquire the Arlington, Virginia-based US Airways Group.

The merged company adopted the well-known US Airways Group name and was based in America West's former corporate offices in Tempe. US Airways Group corporate offices in Arlington were closed, and most US Airways management were laid off. America West CEO Doug Parker became CEO of the merged company. The merger was completed on September 27, 2005. A merger of the two airlines' FAA operating certificates occurred on September 25, 2007 (the US Airways certificate survived), ending the 24-year history of the America West Airlines name.

The company was founded September 4, 1981 by a group of investors led by Edward R. Beauvais. The first flight for America West Airlines took place on August 1, 1983 using a leased Boeing 737. Beauvais ran the company until he resigned in 1992.

In December, 2004, America West Holdings Corporation announced interest in buying part of ATA Airlines, but did not submit a bid.

On April 22, 2005, it was reported that America West Holdings Corporation was in talks with US Airways Group, which owned US Airways, regarding a possible merger with the latter. As reported in the press, US Airways would create a new holding company. Shares in that company would be given to America West Holdings shareholders as well as creditors of US Airways.

On May 19, 2005, America West Holdings Corporation and US Airways Group announced plans to merge their operations. Doug Parker, America West's chief executive, said the merger would create "the nation's first full-service airline with the customer-friendly pricing structure of a low-fare carrier." The proposed combined airline hoped to achieve profitability by cutting $600 million a year in costs. New equity investors, including Air Wisconsin Airways Corporation and ACE Aviation Holdings, the parent company of Air Canada, pledged to invest a total of $350 million in the new company. Airbus was also one of the investors.

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