US Airways has caught football fever with the release of the newly painted US Airways Arizona Cardinals plane. The Airbus A319 plane incorporates the logo and colors of the Cardinals with the US Airways name and stylized version of the flag appearing on the fuselage. N837AW replaces the America West Boeing 757 (N908AW) which was previously painted in the Cardinals’ colors and has since been repainted in the new US Airways livery.

US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said, “Both the Cardinals and US Airways have had a presence in Arizona since the 1980s. In fact, until recently, US Airways and the Cardinals were neighbors in Tempe and many of our loyal customers also happen to be proud Cardinals fans.

“As the official airline of the Cardinals and as the hometown airline we’re proud to show our support to the hometown team. This plane serves as a reminder that US Airways is dedicated to our communities.”

“The Cardinals are very proud to have US Airways as our official airline partner. This new Cardinals-themed plane is also a source of pride for our team and our fans as it travels the country and showcases Arizona’s home team,” said Michael Bidwill, Arizona Cardinals Vice President and General Counsel.

The plane will be dedicated to US Airways employees, the state of Arizona and Arizona Cardinals fans in a ceremony at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport today.

Here are some facts regarding the process of painting an airplane:

* Typically, 60 gallons of paint are required to paint an aircraft.

* The entire process, on average, requires a plane to be out of service
for eight to nine days.

* It takes about 72 hours for the paint to dry.

* Aircraft require repainting every six to seven years, depending on how
the coat is maintained and polished.

Phoenix is US Airways third largest hub with 11,535 employees and offering 319 daily flights to 99 non-stop destinations. Phoenix also serves as a US Airways’ international gateway serving 12 destinations in Mexico and Latin America.

US Airways is the fifth largest domestic airline employing nearly 35,000 aviation professionals worldwide. US Airways, US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express operate approximately 3,800 flights per day and serve more than 230 communities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The new US Airways—the product of a merger between America West and US Airways in September 2005—is a member of the Star Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 841 destinations in 157 countries worldwide. This press release and additional information on US Airways can be found at www.usairways.com.
——-