Despite record high fuel prices, America West’s takeover of bankrupt US Airways will enable it to make a profit, says its chief executive.
“As oil goes up, it just makes the merger more important,” America West CEO Doug Parker told Airwise News in an interview.
The deal will create the largest US low-cost carrier.
America West, the No. 8 US carrier, announced last May it would buy US Air, the seventh-largest domestic carrier.
Mr Parker said the two airlines would initially operate separately and create an alliance over time.
The deal has already cleared several hurdles but also faces the approval of stockholders 13 September.
US Airways hopes to get out of court protection and close the merger by September.
Report by David Wilkening
