Article in today's Arizona Republic
Here is the article addressing this issue, and others, in today's
Arizona Republic:
AmWest, US Air deal likely soon
Formal announcement of merger reportedly is set for Thursday
Weeks of speculation about an America West Airlines-US Airways merger should give way to straight facts this week, with a formal announcement of the deal tentatively set for Thursday.
Sources close to the talks say the airlines and the partners they have lined up to help create the nation's sixth-largest carrier are aiming to release the news after the stock market closes that day.
There are no guarantees they'll meet that goal, of course, given the myriad parties involved and mountains of paperwork. Previous internal deadlines have come and gone. America West has plenty on its plate early in the week, with its annual shareholders meeting and quarterly board of directors meeting in Tempe.
Whenever it comes - and few don't expect a deal at this point - the merger announcement may begin to answer a cargo-hold's worth of questions on the minds of employees, unions, travelers, airport officials and city leaders from Philadelphia to Phoenix. In the Valley, the airline has more than 10,000 employees and accounts for nearly 40 percent of the passenger traffic at Sky Harbor International Airport, 50 percent if you add in commuter operation America West Express. US Airways' big hubs are in Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C.
Wall Street will be watching keenly, too, and has been skeptical of the marriage to date. America West's stock has fallen 15 percent since word of the talks leaked last month, closing at $4.09 Friday. . .