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America West Begins Nonstop Service

America West Airlines, (NYSE: AWA) the second largest low fare carrier in the United States, announced today that it will begin daily nonstop service between Phoenix and Toronto on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2002. America West has been serving Toronto Pearson International Airport since October 2000 and has seen a dramatic increase in ticket demand since it unveiled a revolutionary fare structure in March 2002. The new business-friendly fares are 50 to 70 percent lower than most other major airlines and do not require a Saturday night stay.

“Our decision to expand service in Toronto is a direct result of overwhelming customer support for our lower fares and friendly ticketing policies. We increased service to our Columbus hub in October because of strong demand and we`re planning to add service to our Las Vegas hub as well,” said Scott Kirby, executive vice president, sales and marketing. “Customers tell us they want quality, low-fare air travel. Given that, we will continue to expand in markets that are dominated by high fare carriers where our unique business-friendly fares and outstanding operational performance give us a distinct competitive advantage.”


America West currently offers four nonstop roundtrip flights a day to its hub in Columbus, Ohio. Those America West Express flights are operated by Chautauqua Airlines. America West also plans to add service between Toronto and its Las Vegas hub on Dec. 26, 2002. Flights between Toronto and Phoenix and Las Vegas will be operated with Airbus A319 aircraft, which feature seating for 12 in first class and 112 in the main cabin. The airline offers connections to more than 30 destinations in the U.S. and Mexico.


America West also serves Calgary with daily nonstop service to Phoenix, which began on Oct. 27, 2002, and Vancouver with daily nonstop service to Phoenix, which began in May 1995.


For more information or to make a reservation, contact your professional travel agent or America West at 1-800-2-FLY-AWA (1-800-235-9292). Reservation and information services are also available at www.americawest.com . Customers will receive 3,000 FlightFund bonus miles when they book any ticket at www.americawest.com and travel by Dec. 31, 2002. Customers can sign up for FlightFund, the airline`s worldwide frequent flyer program, at www.FlightFund.com , the frequent flyer section of www.americawest.com or by calling the FlightFund Service Center at 1-800-247-5691.

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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 93 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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