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America West to Assist National Customers


America West Airlines (NYSE: AWA) announced today that it will offer standby travel options for National Airlines customers who are affected by the airline`s cessation of operations. National Airlines customers who have confirmed paper or electronic tickets will be accepted for standby, space available travel on America West under the following conditions:

—Customers must travel on the day of originally scheduled travel on National Airlines, to and from the originally scheduled airports—Customers must provide proof of purchase for the National Airlines ticket—Customers will be charged a service fee based upon the customer`s itinerary.


“America West has proudly served the Las Vegas community for nearly 20 years, and we will do everything we can to accommodate those customers inconvenienced by the cessation of National Airlines,” said J. Scott Kirby, executive vice president, sales and marketing.


In addition to re-accommodating National customers on a standby basis, America West said it would add extra customer service staff at Las Vegas and at other affected airports in the near term.


America West serves 36 nonstop destinations from Las Vegas and more than 80 destinations through connections in the airline`s hubs in Phoenix and Columbus, Ohio. America West should be able to provide re-accommodation options for most of National`s customers.

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Although America West has seats available on many flights, the airline expects to be heavily booked during the upcoming holiday season when it will be difficult to fly on a standby basis. Therefore, passengers planning to travel for the holidays may want to purchase tickets.


To take advantage of America West`s low last-minute fares, which are up to 70 percent lower than most other major airlines and generally do not require a Saturday night stay, customers may visit americawest.com or call their local travel agent.


For more information on these reaccommodation options, National customers may contact America West Airlines reservations centers through a special toll-free number at 1-888-732-0075.


America West Airlines is the nation`s largest low-fare, hub-and-spoke airline. Founded in 1983, it is the only carrier formed since deregulation to achieve major airline status. Today, America West is the nation`s eighth-largest carrier and serves 92 destinations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. America West is a wholly owned subsidiary of America West Holdings Corporation, an aviation and travel services company with 2001 sales of $2.1 billion.


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