America West Airlines (NYSE: AWA) announced today that its FlightFund frequent flyer program has won the prestigious �Freddie Award� for best Elite-Level Program in the United States, Canada and Latin America. America West is the first low-fare airline to win the prestigious award, and the 2004 award marks the airline�s second consecutive win. Presented at the 16th Annual Freddie Awards by InsideFlyer magazine, the �Best Elite Program� award recognizes the frequent flyer program that offers the most valuable combination of benefits and bonuses for its elite-level members.

�This award is especially meaningful as it is determined by those who know the airline industry best � the most frequent flyers who fly not only America West but also our competition, including legacy carries and other low cost airlines,� explained America West Vice President, Marketing, Ken Feldman. �Earning �Best Elite� for the second year in a row is affirmation that frequent flyers are choosing low-cost airlines such as America West for their business travel needs. And only America West offers the same full service product frequent flyers have come to expect at the same low fares as other low cost carriers.� With 277,756 frequent flyers casting ballots, America West also finished among the top five in three additional Freddie award categories: Program of the Year, Best Bonus Promotion and Best Newsletter.

�There is simply no underestimating the importance of this award. For many travelers, the elite-level benefits are the program,� said Randy Petersen, editor and publisher of InsideFlyer magazine.

America West�s FlightFund program was initiated in 1987 and is one of the most generous frequent flyer programs in the industry today. It offers its Elite members unlimited complimentary space-available first-class upgrades, priority check-in and security lines, early boarding privileges, preferred coach seating, special access phone numbers and mileage bonuses.

FlightFund also features dozens of partners who offer members a variety of ways to earn miles. Award travel begins at just 15,000 miles year-round with options for travel to more than 300 destinations on five continents.

InsideFlyer magazine introduced the Freddie Awards in 1988 to allow frequent travelers to choose the best airline and hotel frequent travel programs from their point of view. The awards have grown in stature and importance and are today the most prestigious consumer-generated awards in the industry.

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 per day in 93 destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.

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