Mergers, Acquisitions and Takeovers Case Study

US Airways and America West Merger : The Corporate Culture Integration

OR

Abstract:
In September 2005, US Airways and America West, the seventh and the eighth-largest airlines in the US, merged to create the sixth-largest airline in the country. The merger was expected to help US Airways to emerge successfully from bankruptcy protection and help America West to expand its operations. However, there were several issues concerning the success of the merger. The principal among them was the integration of the vastly different corporate cultures of the two airlines.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To provide an insight into the merger between US Airways and America West and the steps being undertaken by the companies to make the merger a success, especially regarding integration of their vastly different corporate cultures.

Keywords : US Airways;Mergers,Acquisitions,Alliances Case Study; America West; Corporate culture integration; Merger; Low cost airline; US airline industry; Customer service; Employee relations; Seniority integration process; Financial viability; Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Contents : 
Ground Realities
US Airways: The Low Cost, Full-service Carrier
Challenges faced by US Airways
Project Barbell or Project Dumbbell?
The US Airlines: Market Share
The Low Cost Business Model
The US Airline Industry
The US Airline Industry: Market Share