Arm In Arm With America West

Now that a federal bankruptcy judge in Virginia has cleared US Airways to exit Chapter 11, what's the hardest part about the merger with America West? For America West, anyway, it's the name change.

After 22-years as a stand-alone airline, the Phoenix-based carrier is something of a household name there. It may well take more than a day or two for flight crews to stop saying, "Welcome aboard America West" and start saying "Thank you for flying US Airways."

While America West management will run US Air once the merger is complete -- in as much as two years -- the name change takes effect right away.

"I'm very sad," said America West flight attendant Mary Cote of the name change. The 22-year veteran told The Arizona Republic, "My heart. It hurts my heart."

Another flight attendant, Michael Wesley, told the Republic, the change was difficult because "we've been us for so long."

Tuesday marked the name change ceremony in Phoenix. Next Tuesday will mark a true test of the two airlines' ability to get along. That's when they merge operations at Sky Harbor Airport.

FMI: www.usairways.com