Tempe-based U-S Airways continues to merge its operations with parent America West airlines. Some decisions are made behind closed doors by top-level executives. Other decisions however, not so much. KJZZ’s Tony Ganzer reports.
TG: Here’s a bit of a trivia question: How long, and how do you paint a fleet of planes after a high-profile merger?
KIRBY: “It’s a good question…”
TG: U-S Airways’ new president Scott Kirby.
KIRBY: “We actually continue to paint the aircraft. We should have all done by first quarter of next year.”
TG: U.S. Airways and America West Airlines merged last year. The companies are still working to better streamline operations of baggage handling, and union contracts. But the logistics of plane painting, are a little more tangible.
KIRBY: “ We have up to 5 paint lines we call them…takes 7 days to paint them…then it takes a couple days for the paint to dry. Once one airplane leaves, another plane is flown in. In the slow periods we paint more, during the peaks we paint less.”
TG: Kirby says paint priority is given to America West planes, before touch-ups are given to the red, white and blue U-S Airways planes. Post merger, American West decided to keep both the U-S Airways name, and plane paint jobs.
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