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December 3, 2009

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FAA official: Big LV carrier in danger of being grounded

Friday, Dec. 8, 2000 | 10:24 a.m.

America West Airlines of Phoenix, the second-largest airline serving Las Vegas, is in danger of being grounded for repeated maintenance violations, an FAA official told U.S. News & World Report.

The magazine quoted Nick Lacey, Federal Aviation Administration flight standards director, as saying America West is "perilously close" to losing its operating license.

"We are essentially nearing the point where we have to start questioning the competency, qualifications and commitment of (America West's) management team," he said. "My view is ... they're at the end of the rope."

America West said it was "shocked and astonished" by Lacey's comments and that it's working to correct maintenance problems.

America West, with 12,755 seats on planes leaving Las Vegas daily, is second in size in Las Vegas behind Southwest Airlines with 21,708 daily seats.

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