America West Delays Starting Local Service
Inauguration of America West Express passenger service between Spokane and Phoenix has been postponed from April 10 to July 10 to meet federal regulations on new Fokker 70 jets, officials said Thursday.
Customers holding advance reservations with the Phoenixbased airline may rebook for flights through July 31 at the same introductory, $198 round-trip rate. The 21-day advance purchase fare is $144 round trip.
America West service will be operated by Desert Sun Airlines, a division of the Mesa Air Group of Farmington, N.M.
Mesa is using the new service to introduce the Fokker 70, a 78-passenger jet that will make the flight in one hour and 45 minutes.
Mesa’s announcement also comes three weeks after it reported a 65 percent drop in its fiscal fourthquarter earnings.