Airline Initiates Phoenix Service Long Range Future Of America West Express Direct Flights Depends On Market Response

Spokane’s first nonstop flights to Phoenix will be launched April 10 at rates currently below the competition, an airline company announced Monday.

America West Express, a Phoenix-based carrier that emerged from bankruptcy last year, said it will make four direct flights daily between the two cities at prices that are $10 less than fares currently charged by United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and others.

America West won’t say how long it will serve Spokane, but the arrival of another low-priced carrier is expected to continue the downward pressure on fares.

In the past, small low-fare carriers such as Morris Air and Southwest have profoundly affected air service to the 2.7 million people who annually fly in and out of the Spokane International Airport. Morris, which later was acquired by Southwest, triggered a fare war that helped boost ridership at the airport by 70 percent in the past three years.

America West’ introductory fare will be $198 roundtrip, with no advance purchase or other restrictions. The everyday fare will be $144 roundtrip, with a 21-day advance purchase and a Saturday night layover.

The 1,056-mile flight to America West’ hub in Phoenix will take one hour and 45 minutes, officials said. From there, America West flies to 45 destinations in the United States and Mexico, including Orlando, New Orleans, New York and Seattle.

Southwest and United currently charge $154 roundtrip to Phoenix, stopping at least once along the way. That adds more than three hours to the total travel time.

“They’re (America West) digging at our pockets a little, but we’re not too concerned,” said David Yarbrough, station manager for Southwest Air lines. “A little competition is good.”

America West service to Spokane will be provided under a contract with a subsidiary of the Mesa Air Group, a New Mexico-based regional carrier. The subsidiary, Desert Sun Airlines, will employ 10 people in Spokane and operate a checkin counter next to Southwest.

To launch the new service, Mesa is spending $44 million to acquire a pair of speedy, new 78-passenger Fokker 70 jets, with an option for four more, said spokeswoman Sarah Pitcher Sproul. At the same time, the company’s Desert Sun division is launching nonstop flights between Des Moines, Iowa, and Phoenix.

Sproul said there’s no guarantee that America West will be a long-term player in Spokane, but Mesa has signed a one-year contract to dock at the B Concourse at the airport.

“If there’s demand, we’ll stay,” she said. “We think it’s a very viable market.”

Federal statistics show that last year an average of 114 people each day flew from Spokane to Phoenix through some indirect route, said Mark Jucht, finance director for the airport. He estimates that the number has grown even larger.

“This will be substantially more convenient for many people,” Jucht said. “Flying to Phoenix will be a nice addition.”

America West flights to Phoenix will leave Spokane at 11:25 a.m. and 5:55 p.m. Return flights will arrive in Spokane at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

After three years in court, the 11-year-old America West Airlines emerged last August from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company employs Mesa to link smaller cities with America West’s Phoenix hub.

Mesa operates six divisions that fly planes and crews for America West, United Express and USAir Express. It operates 177 aircraft that last year carried 5 million passengers between 178 cities in 34 states.