America West Airlines (NYSE: AWA) today issued the following statement regarding the release of passenger data.

In press reports earlier today, it was reported that several airlines, including America West, released passenger name records (PNRs) to the government in association with the testing of a computerized background-check project. In June 2002, in accordance with a written Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement, America West provided a private sector firm with PNR data for travel occurring between June 20, 2002 and July 5, 2002. The vendor was developing a passenger-screening prototype for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The non-disclosure agreement limited the permissible uses of the data and required that the data be stored in a secure facility; expressly provided that the data would not be shared with the TSA or any other government agency; and required the destruction or return of the data after the project was completed.

America West's current policy is to not provide PNR data to private contractors or government agencies for use in aviation security research projects.

SOURCE America West Airlines -0- 06/23/2004 /CONTACT: Elise Eberwein of America West Airlines, +1-480-693-5574 or +1-480-221-1328/ /Web site: http://www.americawest.com/ (AWA)

CO: America West Airlines ST: Arizona IN: AIR LEI TRA TRN SU: EXE

ES -- LAW103 -- 5001 06/23/2004 21:11 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com

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