March Madness Comes to America West

March Madness Comes to America West
Airline Anticipates Record RASM Month for March 


PHOENIX, March 21  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- America West Airlines (NYSE:AWA)
today reported that on Sunday, March 20, 2005 the airline achieved the highest
yield, highest revenue per available seat mile (RASM) and second highest load
factor performance of any day in the airline's history.  In addition, the
airline completed 99.8 percent of its scheduled flights on Sunday, March 20,
and 80 percent of the airline's flights arrived within 14 minutes of schedule.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050223/LAW097LOGO)

"Our record revenue performance achieved yesterday demonstrates what America
West is capable of when demand is in synch with supply.  In addition, our
outstanding team of 13,000 employees did a fantastic job of running a reliable,
on-time operation while transporting over 90,000 passengers throughout our
system," said Scott Kirby, executive vice president, marketing and sales. 
"Additionally, due to strong yields and demand, we anticipate the month of
March may result in the best RASM month in our airline's history."

For additional information regarding the airline's cost guidance and other
statistics, please visit the investor relations update, which is located in the
"About AWA" section of the airline's Web site at http://www.americawest.com/.

Approximately 55,000 customers upgrade their low-fare experience every day when
they get on board America West.  The airline's 13,000 employees are proud to
offer a range of services including more destinations than any other low-cost
carrier, first-class cabins, assigned seating, airport clubs and an
award-winning frequent flyer program.  America West operates nearly 1,000
flights daily to 95 destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. 
This press release and additional information on America West can be accessed
at http://www.americawest.com/. (AWAT)

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of

the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and

uncertainties that could cause America West's actual results and financial

position to differ materially from these statements.  These forward-looking

statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe,"
"estimate," "expect," "may," "will," "intend," "plan," "predict," and similar 

 terms used in connection with statements regarding our outlook, the RASM
 environment, and our expected 2005 financial performance.  The risks and
uncertainties relating to forward-looking statements include, but are not


limited to, the duration and extent of the current soft economic conditions;

the impact of global instability including the continuing impact of the
continued military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan and the terrorist attacks

of Sept. 11, 2001 and the potential impact of future hostilities, terrorist

attacks, infectious disease outbreaks or other global events; limitations on
our ability to obtain additional financing due to high levels of debt and the
financial and other covenants in our debt instruments; changes in federal and

state laws and regulations; changes in prevailing interest rates and the

availability of and terms of financing to fund our business; the ability to

attract and retain qualified personnel; the cyclical nature of the airline

industry;  competitive practices in the industry, including significant fare 

restructuring activities by major airlines; the impact of changes in fuel
 prices; relations with unionized employees generally and the impact and
outcome of the labor negotiations and other factors described from time to
time in the company's publicly available SEC reports.  We caution you that
 these risks may not be exhaustive.  We operate in a continually changing
business environment, and new risks emerge from time to time.  The company


undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to

reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press

                                 release.

                               Get on Board
                                  -AWA-


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DATASOURCE: America West Airlines



CONTACT:  Elise Eberwein of America West Airlines, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.americawest.com/ 

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