Originally Posted by
UAL awesome
HP and US have had SOC since September of 2007...
"Cactus" being the callsign for US Airways today was done for the former HP employees...a throwing of a bone if you will. AWE is also used for the ICAO code, too.
The SOC you mention is the Operating Certificate for America West, thus the call sign of "Cactus" for all aircraft operating under that certificate.
The HP/US merger was different from most. One airline wasn't purchased by another. Both were purchased by a holding company.
The SEC had to designate a "surviving carrier" (I think for tax purposes). They determined the surviving carrier to be America West. The holding company was formed by HP management, using funds from investors rounded up by HP, to be based in Tempe AZ with HP Management at the helm.
HP elected to "sell" itself to this new holding company (LCC).
"Old" US had to sell themselves to LCC per the plan they had submitted to the Bankruptcy Court. At the time, this was the only plan they had to exit from bankruptcy.
"Cactus" and "AWE" were not bones thrown to HP employees, they are how the cookie crumbled. The cookie that crumbled being the "old/east" US.
If there were any bones thrown, then it would be LCC/HP deciding to market itself as US Airways. A very large bone indeed, but there are many more "east" employees to feed than "west".
This UA/CO merger is interesting. At least the way they're playing it to the public right now, from both a financial and marketing perspective, it looks as if the 2 companies are truly merging. If one has to be determined, I wonder who is the "surviving carrier" ?