Merger between US Airways and America West.

Well I would have preferred them to come up with an entirely new brand name.
After the debacle this winter and US Airways contiunal struggle with bankruptcy. The US Airways brand though better known is tarnished somewhat!
They could have done a Airtran and renamed the airline and had commercial and radio spots saying that there no longer the same old airline.
Advertising the new airlines future di
 
Well I would have preferred them to come up with an entirely new brand name.
After the debacle this winter and US Airways contiunal struggle with bankruptcy. The US Airways brand though better known is tarnished somewhat!
They could have done a Airtran and renamed the airline and had commercial and radio spots advertising that their no longer the same old airline.
Advertising the new airlines future directions and strenghts.
Sigh...oh well lets at least hope they at least get a new livery for the new combined company.
Brand recognition is everything. Since they insist on keeping the US-Airways label they can at least create a marketing campaign on a smaller level then what I previously mentioned with a new livery.
Signaling that their colors have change so has there service/future (insert your word of choice).
So come fly us and experience the brand new US-Airways.

-Matthew
 
Personally, I think I would have kept the America West name. Even though they've been in and out of bankruptcy court over the past 20 years, it's a less tarnished name compared to USAirways.

Some news yahoo said that "USAirways has more brand recognition than America West" which means squat. There has been what, two Pan Ams, since the original kicked the dirt and neither were able to parlay much recognition.

A new name would have been better, but it might be an issue with internet domain names. Hence, how some airline got the name "Song" -- not because it was a swell name for an airline, but more or less an available domain name.
 
I'm starting to think I'm the only person rooting for US Airways and the name...

Even if US Airways and America West join, where does that leave them? Oh yes, in a hellish industry driven by low-cost carriers and high fuel prices. I don't know how much this will actually help, but I am pulling for a drastic change in US Airways operations...they're getting good load factors and they only have a few months to get help.
 
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I'm starting to think I'm the only person rooting for US Airways and the name...

Even if US Airways and America West join, where does that leave them? Oh yes, in a hellish industry driven by low-cost carriers and high fuel prices. I don't know how much this will actually help, but I am pulling for a drastic change in US Airways operations...they're getting good load factors and they only have a few months to get help.

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Oh I definately hope they do well under any name that they choose. I've only flown on them twice but both times were very enjoyable (MUC-PHL-MUC). Granted that was a few years ago (early 2001) they did a great job. Even if they didn't and I had the worst flight of my life I think people that root for companies (airliners.net dorks mostly) to go under need to get a life. An airline is more than just airplanes flying around, but also thousands of people making a living.
 
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Is this good or bad for pilots?


If the merger results in a stronger company, than I say good for pilots.
 
What a pair of used merchandise these two airlines make. America West has been in Chapter 11 twice and emerged, and US Airways has been in Chapter 11 twice. These two airlines also represent the biggest investment by the Government through the Stabilization Board. So the new grouping will call itself a "low-cost full-service airline", is quite laughable.

There have been one or two successful mergers in the US - the best example being between Delta and Western in 1984. On the other hand, it's true that the overall track record of airline mergers/acquisitions has been poor.
 
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I'm starting to think I'm the only person rooting for US Airways and the name...

Even if US Airways and America West join, where does that leave them? Oh yes, in a hellish industry driven by low-cost carriers and high fuel prices. I don't know how much this will actually help, but I am pulling for a drastic change in US Airways operations...they're getting good load factors and they only have a few months to get help.

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Oh I definately hope they do well under any name that they choose. I've only flown on them twice but both times were very enjoyable (MUC-PHL-MUC). Granted that was a few years ago (early 2001) they did a great job. Even if they didn't and I had the worst flight of my life I think people that root for companies (airliners.net dorks mostly) to go under need to get a life. An airline is more than just airplanes flying around, but also thousands of people making a living.

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Has anyone here ever had a wonderful, pleasant flight on America West (as a passenger)?
 
In fact I have...many times. I used to fly America West or Alaska home when I was in school, and whoever had the lowest fares won, and I never had a problem with either...in fact, depending on the crew, America West occasionally gave better service than Alaska. However, having a giant eskimo on your tail really sets you apart from any one else in my mind...not some dumb little flag.

The only saving grace of the entire merger thing is that Doug Parker is taking control and he's keeping his operation in Tempe where it belongs. The lumbering executives of US Airways just need to close and lock their office doors, turn in their keys and go away. I remember the days of America West before Doug Parker, and I remember them after Doug Parker, and I must say he will probably go down in history as a comparable CEO to even Gordon Bethume. America West is a great airline now...and the stigma it had a few years back is disappearing faster than I've ever seen...

This is good news for the airline industry though. They've certainly secured a lot of route structure through the US with minimal connections...it'll be interesting to see how full the flights from PHX-CLT go the first few weeks its a US Airways plane parked at terminal 4 in PHX.
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I've heard a lot of good reports from America West's MCO-PHX-LAS routes. A lot of the passengers that boarded the America West flights I worked in MEM swore by HP. Granted they were ticked they were having to cram 75 people into a Mesa CRJ-900. The main problem with that is due to some weather and fuel requirements, all of their bags might not make it.
 
OK, question time.

1. How are the seniority lists going to be merged?
2. Will anything change with company HQ coming from a union state, to a right-to-work state? Was this a tactical move to do so?
2a. Now in a right-to-work state, will ALPA only be representing some of the pilot group?
2b. Will the AMWest pilots be required to join the union?
2c. How will work rules change?
3. What's going to be done about the disparity in pay? IMO, they can't afford to raise everyone's pay to the US Air bar, or they'll invoke more debt and end up bankrupt again. They can't lower pay.....they likely can't even meet halfway.
4. Will there be similiar problems with the FA and machinist unions?
5. Was this a merger, or was it a "back door" takeover....hence the dropping of the AmWest name?

I see a bad moon rising, IMHO.....
 
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5. Was this a merger, or was it a "back door" takeover....hence the dropping of the AmWest name?


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Prolly not a "back door" takeover since AmWest was the one that purchased US-Airways.
They just dropped the AMWest brand cause US-Airways had a better name in the industry.

-Matthew
 
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5. Was this a merger, or was it a "back door" takeover....hence the dropping of the AmWest name?


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Prolly not a "back door" takeover since AmWest was the one that purchased US-Airways.
They just dropped the AMWest brand cause US-Airways had a better name in the industry.

-Matthew

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I'm wondering if that's really the case, or if that's just what's being "made public"?
 
Eh! maybe...but AMWest was definately the most profitable of the two. It posted a $340 million dollar profit last quarter. Though they refused to put that money up for said merger!

-Matthew
 
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Prolly not a "back door" takeover since AmWest was the one that purchased US-Airways.
They just dropped the AMWest brand cause US-Airways had a better name in the industry.

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I'm wondering if that's really the case, or if that's just what's being "made public"?

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This transaction is pretty transparent. There are creditors ready to step forward and finance USAir's exit from bankruptcy and underwrite the combined company going forward. Every legacy carrier in the industry would respond to that. America West brings nothing to the table for USAir except new creditors willing to back the deal, they do not have any independent ability to buy USAir.

The creditors of this industry are working around the clock to decide how to arrange the assets they now control so that they can get paid going forward. The few stockholders left are mainly speculators who are owners in name only. The creditors now own the bulk of the industry, even the companies not yet in BK.
 
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Instead of operating one under the other, they should close down both and merge all the aircraft, employees, and etc to make on LCC.

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WTF? II just read this and thought " Man does this sound stupid". I look to the left and it's under my name.
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Think of all the money its going to cost painting US Airways on all of AW's aircraft. Oh well, US Airways truly is a good airline who treats people well, better than I've been treated with any airline, by far.
 
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