America West Express

Infobox Airline
airline=America West Express/operated by Mesa Airlines

logo_size=200
fleet_size=43
destinations=59
IATA=YV
ICAO=ASH
callsign=Air Shuttle
parent=US Airways Group/Mesa Air Group
founded=
headquarters=Tempe, Arizona
key_people=Doug Parker (CEO), Derek Kerr (CFO)
hubs=Sky Harbor International Airport
McCarran International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
focus_cities=
frequent_flyer=Dividend Miles
lounge=US Airways Club
alliance=Star Alliance
website= http://www.usairways.com

America West Express was the name for America West Airlines commuter and regional flights operated by Mesa Air Group's Mesa Airlines under a code share agreement. Today Mesa Airlines operates for US Airways Express. [http://www.mesa-air.com/default.asp]

Mesa Airlines operated America West Express from hubs at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California to regional destinations.

America West Express fleet consisted of 61 turboprop and regional jet aircraft.

History

America West Express started as a regional carrier in association with America West Airlines with a hub at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. The name "America West Express" was taken from the old America West Airlines cargo service which had begun in 1985.Originally, America West operated the Dash-8 turboprop aircraft, but on November 30, 1992, America West signed a codeshare agreement with Mesa Airlines to operate America West Airlines' regional and commuter services. In the mid 1990's, with the opening of the America West Airlines hub at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio, America West Airlines used Chautauqua Airlines to provide commuter service to feed the hub. When the hub was shut down, the Chautauqua Airlines code share was discontinued, leaving Mesa as the sole operator of AW Express services.

In 2003, America West greatly increased the size of their express operation by starting new routes operated by regional jets from its hub at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 2006 America West Express was branded US Airways Express.

Destinations

"See full article:" America West Express destinations

Fleet

ervices

America West Express operated all of its fleet in a single coach class configuration. At one time, the CRJ-700s and CRJ-900s did offer dual class service. However, this was dropped when customers were not willing to pay extra for limited "First class" amenities on these short flights. Increasing the number of coach seats resulted in increased revenue.

Identifying codes

Since these were code share flights, the America West Airlines codes were used for customer purposes. "HPX" indicates America West Express flights. However, the flights were actually operated under the Mesa Airlines codes.

ources

* [http://www.americawest.com/ America West Airlines website]
* [http://www.mesa-air.com/ Mesa Airlines website]