Exhibit 99
America West Airlines U S Airways
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Contacts:
America West Holdings Corporation: 480/693-5729
US Airways Group, Inc.: 703/872-5100
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
US AIRWAYS GROUP AND AMERICA WEST HOLDINGS ANNOUNCE
NEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR COMBINED COMPANY
PHOENIX, Sept. 8, 2005 --US Airways Group, Inc. and America West
Holdings Corporation today announced new members for the board of directors of
US Airways Group, Inc. following confirmation of US Airways Group's Plan of
Reorganization and completion of the planned merger of the two companies.
Following those transactions, US Airways Group, Inc. will be the parent
company of US Airways, Inc., America West Holdings Corporation and America
West Airlines, Inc.
The 13-member board will include:
W. Douglas Parker, 43, currently chairman, president and CEO of
America West Holdings Corporation and America West Airlines, and who will
serve as Chairman of US Airways Group, Inc.;
Bruce R. Lakefield, 61, currently CEO and president of US Airways
Group, Inc. and US Airways, Inc., who will serve as vice-chairman of US
Airways Group, Inc.;
Richard Bartlett, 48, managing director and principal of Resource
Holdings, Ltd. Mr. Bartlett is expected to be nominated to the board by
Eastshore Aviation, LLC, which, as previously announced, has agreed to invest
$125 million in US Airways Group in connection with the merger;
Herbert M. Baum, 68, recently retired chairman, president and CEO of
Dial Corporation;
Richard C. Kraemer, 62, former CEO of UDC and president of Chartwell
Capital, Inc.;
Cheryl G. Krongard, 49, former senior partner of Apollo Management,
L.P.;
Robert A. Milton, 45, chairman, president and CEO of ACE Aviation
Holdings, Inc. Mr. Milton is expected to be nominated to the board by ACE
Aviation Holdings, Inc., which, as previously announced, has agreed to invest
$75 million in US Airways Group in connection with the merger;
Hans Mirka, 68, former senior vice president, international division
for American Airlines, Inc.;
Denise M. O'Leary, 48, a private investor in small companies;
George M. Philip, 58, executive director of the New York State
Teachers' Retirement System;
Richard P. Schifter, 51, partner of Texas Pacific Group;
Edward L. Shapiro, 40, vice president and partner, PAR Capital
Management, Inc. Mr. Shapiro is expected to be nominated to the board by PAR
Investment Partners, L.P., which, as previously announced, has agreed to
invest $100 million in US Airways Group in connection with the merger;
J. Steven Whisler, 50, chairman and CEO of Phelps Dodge Corporation.
Doug Parker stated, "We are extremely pleased to have a board
comprised of these tremendously talented individuals who bring a wide variety
of experiences and perspectives to our new airline. Our merger with US Airways
remains on track to close later this month and we look forward to our new
board's expertise and counsel as we build the nation's largest full service,
low cost airline."
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
All statements other than statements of historical fact may be considered
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We urge you to read cautionary language
regarding forward-looking statements, including factors that may cause actual
results and/or outcomes to differ from the forward-looking statements, located
in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the
registration statement on Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on August 11, 2005, which can be found on our respective
websites at http://www.americawest.com and http://www.usairways.com.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
In connection with the proposed merger transaction, US Airways Group and
America West have filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4 and other
documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Registration No.
333-126162) containing a proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed
transaction. The proxy statement/prospectus was mailed to stockholders of
America West Holdings after the registration statement was declared effective
by the SEC on August 11, 2005. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT AND PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELATED MATERIALS CAREFULLY
BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Investors may obtain free copies of the registration statement and proxy
statement/prospectus as well as other filed documents containing information
about US Airways Group and America West Holdings at http://www.sec.gov, the
SEC's Web site. Free copies of America West Holdings' SEC filings are also
available on America West Holdings' Web site at
http://www.shareholder.com/americawest/edgar.cfm, or by request to Investor
Relations, America West Holdings Corporation, 111 West Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe,
Arizona 85281. Free copies of US Airways Group's SEC filings are also
available on US Airways Group's Web site at
http://investor.usairways.com/edgar.cfm or by request to Investor Relations,
US Airways Group, Inc., 2345 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22227.
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation
of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities
in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of
any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means
of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION
America West Holdings, US Airways Group and their respective executive
officers and directors may be deemed, under SEC rules, to be participants in
the solicitation of proxies from America West Holdings' stockholders with
respect to the proposed transaction. Information regarding the officers and
directors of America West Holdings is included in its definitive proxy
statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting filed with the SEC on April 15, 2005.
Information regarding the officers and directors of US Airways Group is
included in its 2004 Annual Report filed with the SEC on Form 10-K on March 1,
2005. More detailed information regarding the identity of potential
participants, and their interests in the solicitation, is set forth in the
registration statement and proxy statement and other materials filed with the
SEC in connection with the proposed transaction.
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