Airline Merger Brings Optimism

[700UW]

Airline merger brings optimism

US Airways' merger with America West, born of desperation, is creating hope for a new start.

By Tom Belden

Inquirer Staff Writer


W. Douglas Parker, chief executive officer in waiting of US Airways, ventured into the employee-only areas of the Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C., airports last month, meeting dozens of the airline's ticket agents, flight attendants, pilots and baggage handlers.

Parker, who is now CEO of US Airways Group Inc.'s merger partner America West Airlines, said that what he heard from US Airways workers bore a striking similarity to the way America West employees talked in the summer of 2000, when his airline had one of the industry's worst records for on-time flights

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[a320av8r]

OMG! I think somebody finally gets it!

 

[EricLv2Fish]

There isn't much doubt about it....Doug is going to give hope to US Airways and build a stronger future for AWA. Together we are going to make history.

 

[elixir]

Yes, being furloughed from U, Ive been monitoring this closely. I ran into some AWA pilots getting our medicals, and they just want to finish out their time with harmony between the groups. There is NO room for ego-driven comments on each other's boards. I've just read a few on AWA's...mostly FA's...and it is disheartening. Please continue to put our best foot forward during this difficult time...all our collective futures are riding on it. There is a fantastic opportunity before you...so long as "we" don't self-destruct. This merger is exactly what each needs to survive in the future. U was clearly on the brink, but it is also clear that AWA had no capital to grow, or thrive in this increasingly difficult business....

Make the best of the opportunity before you...