On Thursday, May 19, America West Airlines and US Airways announced a merger to create a national low-cost airline exceeding Southwest Airlines in size and scope. Dubbed Project Barbell, to emphasize each constituent company's transcontinental growth potential, the plan is to fly under the US Airways banner (initially maintaining separate operating certificates) whilst integrating the two airlines over two to three years. Doug Parker of America West will become CEO of the combine, with headquarters in Tempe, Arizona. US Airways and US Airways Express currently serve 179 cities, with America West and America West Express operating to 96 destinations. The new entity will operate through hubs at Charlotte, Phoenix, and Philadelphia, with secondary hubs in Las Vegas and Pittsburgh. Expected to become the nation's fifth largest airline (as measured by available seat miles), the conglomerate's fleet will comprise 361 mainline aircraft (reduced from 419 operated by the two component airlines at the beginning of 2005) and supported by 239 regional jets and 57 turboprops to feed the trunk system by the beginning of 2006.
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