America West Airlines (NYSE: AWA) today announced that Travis Christ has been promoted to vice president, marketing; Kara Gin has been promoted to vice president, financial planning and analysis; and Paul Lambert has been promoted to vice president, corporate real estate. Christ and Gin replace Ken Feldman and J.R. Wilson, respectively, who have announced plans to leave America West. The airline also announced it has named Ron Cole to the position of vice president, customers and inflight services and Joette Schmidt to the position of vice president, sales. With today's announcement, the number of corporate officers at the airline increases by one.

"We are delighted to welcome each of these individuals to their new positions. Each has displayed outstanding technical expertise and exceptional leadership skills, and it is a pleasure to see each of them assume more responsibilities," said Chairman and CEO Doug Parker.

Christ, 34, joined America West in 1997 as manager, route planning and scheduling. He currently serves as president, America West Vacations and has also held the positions of senior director, national sales and director, capacity planning. Prior to joining America West, Christ held the position of manager, government affairs, and senior analyst, route planning and scheduling with Houston-based Continental Airlines. Christ began his aviation career with Dallas-based American Airlines in 1988 and served in a variety of operational and staff support positions with that airline through 1993. Christ holds a masters degree in business administration from the American Graduate School of International Management and a bachelor of arts degree in economics and public policy from George Washington University. In his new position, Christ will report to Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing Scott Kirby, and will oversee the airline's advertising, business development, frequent flyer and partner marketing initiatives. He also will continue to oversee America West Vacations.

Cole, 55, has been with America West since 1996 when he joined the airline as vice president of sales. Cole's aviation career includes 21 years at Dallas-based American Airlines where he held a variety of positions, including regional manager of northern California and country sales manager for Canada. Cole also worked for American Airlines' codeshare partner Reno Air, serving as vice president, marketing and sales. In his new position, Cole will report to Senior Vice President, Customer Service Anthony Mule. He will oversee the airline's 2,500 flight attendants and inflight products and services, including the airline's new buy-on-board food service. He will also oversee the airline's customer relations team and serve as the airline's customer advocate.

Gin, 33, has served in a variety of capacities since joining America West in 1996 as a senior analyst in the airline's financial planning and analysis department. Prior positions held at America West include manager of financial planning, manager of flight profitability, director of financial planning and senior director, distribution. She currently oversees the airline's call centers located in Phoenix and Reno, Nev., and also manages the airline's relationships with its distribution partners, including its primary global distribution system, Electronic Data Systems (EDS). Gin holds a bachelor of science in business from Indiana University. Prior to joining America West, Gin was a commercial credit officer with First Chicago NBD in Indianapolis. As vice president, financial planning and analysis, Gin will be responsible for the airline's operating and capital financial planning processes, as well as fleet, labor and airline profitability analysis.

Lambert, 42, joined America West in 2001 as senior director, legal affairs and currently serves as senior director and associate general counsel. Prior to joining America West, from 1993 to 2001 he was vice president and associate general counsel of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Franchise Finance Corporation of America. From 1987 to 1993, Lambert practiced law at the Phoenix-based law firm of Snell & Wilmer. Lambert holds a juris doctor from Columbia University School of Law and a bachelor of science degree in economics from Brigham Young University. In his new position, Lambert will report to Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Joe Beery, and will assume the new responsibilities of overseeing the acquisition and disposition of the airline's corporate real estate and the development and construction of all improvements to the airline's properties and facilities. Also in conjunction with his new position, Lambert was recently elected by the Board of Directors of the Arizona Fueling Facilities Corporation (AFFC), as president of that corporation. The AFFC, which is owned by America West and 13 other airlines operating at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, owns and operates all of the fueling facilities supporting Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. As president of the AFFC Lambert will be responsible for overseeing all of the day-to-day operations and affairs of the AFFC.

Schmidt, 46, joined America West in 1996 and has served in a variety of positions, including senior director, passenger sales, and vice president, customers. Schmidt's aviation experience includes eight years with American Airlines, where she served in a variety of capacities including managing director, sales and marketing. She was a sales representative for Pacific Southwest Airlines between 1985 and 1988. Schmidt sits on several Boards including the Arizona Humane Society and the Tempe Chamber of Commerce. She holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. In her new position, Schmidt will report to Kirby, and will oversee the airline's sales programs, including corporate travel sales and travel agencies.

America West Airlines is the nation's second largest low-fare airline and the only carrier formed since deregulation to achieve major airline status. America West's 13,000 employees serve nearly 55,000 customers a day in 94 destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.

###

Media Contact: Shaun Breese +1 480-693-5729 shaun.breese@americawest.com