Airline orders 22 jets

Thursday, May 27, 2004 | 9:14 a.m.

PHOENIX -- America West Airlines, the eighth- largest U.S. carrier, said it ordered 22 Airbus SAS aircraft valued at $1.27 billion to support planned growth over the next three years.

The Phoenix-based unit of America West Holdings Corp. will buy 17 Airbus A320s and A319s, and sign leases for the rest, said spokeswoman Elise Eberwein. The airline plans to boost flight capacity 10 percent this year and 8 percent to 10 percent in 2005 and 2006.

America West is the second-busiest airline at McCarran International Airport, with 2,687 landings in April.

America West joins other low-cost carriers such as Southwest Airlines, the busiest airline at McCarran, in adding aircraft to lure travelers from larger rivals. American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, and other network airlines delayed or canceled aircraft orders following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

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