Board members appointed to America West-US Airways

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005 | 10:55 a.m.

The merger involving the second-busiest airline operating at McCarran International Airport has been cleared for takeoff.

America West Holdings Corp. shareholders voted in favor of the merger this morning, with 96 percent of the shares supporting the deal, the company said in a statement today.

But when America West Airlines formally ties the knot with US Airways, former Nevada Gov. Bob Miller, a member of America West's board of directors since he left office in 1998, won't be on board.

Miller was left off the list of 13 board members announced last week by US Airways Group Inc. and America West Holdings Corp.

Miller said earlier this month that it was possible that he would not be reappointed to the board when the companies merged and members of the boards of US Airways and America West were blended. He made the remarks when discussing future prospects of international flights for Las Vegas on the merged carrier. Miller said he hoped to stay on the board so that he could help influence airline policy decisions.

Among the board members announced last week were executives with Arizona roots, representatives of institutional investors and key board members from US Airways.

Doug Parker, currently chairman and chief executive of America West, will head the board, which also includes Bruce Lakefield, chief executive of US Airways.

Other board members include Herbert Baum, recently retired chairman and chief executive of Dial Corp.; J. Steven Whisler, chairman and chief executive of Phelps Dodge Corp.; Robert Milton, chairman and chief executive of ACE Aviation Holdings Inc.; and Hans Mirka, former senior vice president of the international division of American Airlines Inc.

America West shareholder votes on the merger proposal were expected to be tallied this morning and later in the week, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Stephen Mitchell is expected to accept US Airways' reorganization plan which paves the way for final approval of the deal at the end of this month or in early October.

A spokesman for America West said the airline would adopt the US Airways name soon after the final approval.

Between America West and America West Express, there are about 150 daily flights to 73 nonstop destinations to and from McCarran. The airline operates as a hub carrier in Las Vegas, meaning that most of its flights begin or end at McCarran and the airport serves as a transfer point for passengers going to other cities.

By passenger counts, US Airways is the No. 8 carrier at McCarran and has nine daily flights to three destinations.