America West Airlines, founded in 1981, was a Phoenix-based, low-cost airline that flew to more than 100 destinations around the United States, Canada and Mexico. The airline merged with US Airways in 2005 and now operates under the US Airways name and logo.
America West Airlines began in 1981, the brainchild of founder, Ed Beauvais. The airline, based and headquartered in Phoenix, grew quickly---operating 21 planes to 23 cities by 1984.
In its heyday, America West Airlines flew to more than 100 cities, with hubs in Phoenix, Columbus, Ohio and Las Vegas. The airline flew from Anchorage to Ft. Lauderdale, from Hawaii to Boston. In addition, it flew from British Columbia to Ontario and from Los Cabos to Mexico City.
America West filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1991 and operated in bankruptcy until 1994. The airline pared down its aircraft to 87 and eliminated costly routes, including Hawaii.
A leaner, more efficient America West Airlines emerged from bankruptcy in 1994. Gone was founder and CEO, Ed Beauvais, as well as many aircraft.
America West merged with US Airways in 2005 and gradually adopted that airline's colors, logos and name. The legacy of America West, however, is the advent of a low-cost, no-frills airline.
