America West Airlines announced today that it has been chosen as the Best
Major Airline by Entrepreneur magazine for the second consecutive year.
The April issue featuring the 11th Annual Business Travel Awards showcases
America West for responding to the interests of the business traveler and
providing an excellent value with business-friendly fares. Entrepreneur
said, “America West seems to be one of the few major carriers that ‘gets
it’ when it comes to offering value to travelers.”
“Receiving this recognition is a fitting tribute to the entrepreneurial
spirit of the America West team. We have worked hard to alter our business
strategy and deliver an unmatched combination of low fares with a full
range of services, and customers have responded enthusiastically.
Entrepreneurs, by definition, embrace new ideas and new ways of conducting
business, and we are honored to receive recognition for our service for
the second year in a row,” said Doug Parker, chairman and chief executive
officer.

Entrepreneur magazine touted the fact that customers in America West’s
hubs of Phoenix and Las Vegas are lucky to benefit from America West’s
presence. The magazine also noted that last-minute, one-way fares on the
airline’s transcontinental routes between Los Angeles and San Francisco on
the West Coast and Boston and New York on the East Coast have dropped from
more than $1,200 before the airline announced service to less than $300 as
a result of America West’s presence.

Parker added, “America West has led the way when it comes to reforming
fares. First, we pioneered the business-friendly fare structure in March
2002, which lowered business fares by 40 to 70 percent below most other
major airlines and eliminated the Saturday night stay requirement. And
just last month we made similar changes with our first class fares—
lowering them by up to 70 percent as well. Those changes position America
West as the only airline offering low fares with first-class amenities.”

Last year, America West became the first low-fare airline to receive
Inside Flyer magazine’s prestigious “Freddie Award” for its FlightFund
Elite frequent flyer program. This coveted award is chosen by frequent
flyers themselves and recognizes America West for offering the best
benefits and bonuses for elite-level members. In addition, the America
West Cargo department won the respected Quest for Quality award from
Logistics Management magazine for outstanding performance in customer
service, information technology, equipment and operations, on-time
performance and value.
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