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US Airways Operates 200th World War II Veterans Flight to D.C.

Dépèche transmise le 14 septembre 2011 par Business Wire

US Airways Operates 200th World War II Veterans Flight to D.C.

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--US Airways (NYSE: LCC) today operated its 200^th Honor Flight, transporting veterans to visit the World War II memorial and other sites in Washington, D.C. The flight took 101 veterans from Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina to Washington National Airport.

“US Airways has been a fantastic partner since the first Honor Flight in Sept. 2006. Without their partnership, and that of other airlines, many veterans would not have access to the memorial erected in their honor.”

US Airways has partnered with Honor Flight since 2006. The organization provides World War II veterans the opportunity – free of charge – to see the memorial that was erected in their honor. Those wishing to make a donation to support the Honor Flight Network may do so at honorflight.org.

Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said, “Many of the veterans who have taken the trip told us that without the program they might not have had a chance to visit the memorial. This is our way to say ‘thank you’ for their courageous actions and the US Airways family is proud to participate in this special and rewarding program.” More than 75,000 World War II veterans from 33 states have taken an Honor Flight since its beginning in 2005.

Honor Flight Network co-founder Jeff Miller said, “US Airways has been a fantastic partner since the first Honor Flight in Sept. 2006. Without their partnership, and that of other airlines, many veterans would not have access to the memorial erected in their honor.”

US Airways employees at Washington National provide a festive welcome upon the veterans’ arrival in D.C. Each flight is welcomed with a water cannon salute and live music from the National Symphony welcomes veterans as they deplane into the decorated gate area.

US Airways considers it a privilege to assist those who have, and continue, to serve our country through military service. The airline and our employees demonstrate this commitment by:

• Offering special rates to military personnel traveling on an officially excused absence and to discharged personnel within seven days of discharge. Special rates are also applicable for military dependents.
• Waiving bag fees for active U.S. military with ID on orders and dependents traveling with them (bags 1 through four, up to 100 pounds); active U.S. military on personal travel have first and second checked bag fees waived.
• Recognizing active military and veterans during the week of Veterans Day through our Sweet Delights Take Flight program. Each year in the airline’s hubs and focus cities, the US Airways employee volunteer corps, the Do Crew, delivers sweets to patients in veterans’ hospitals in appreciation for their distinguished service to our country.
• Serving as a significant supporting sponsor of the Veterans Medical Leadership Council in Phoenix, which provides immediate financial assistance to veterans who receive medical care at the Phoenix VA Hospital through the “Returning Warrior Fund.”
• Serving as the presenting sponsor of the Carolinas Freedom Foundation Breakfast and Salute to Veterans Parade in Charlotte.
• Donating miles from US Airways Dividend Miles members to the Fisher House Foundation, which provides complimentary travel to military men and women and their families who are undergoing treatment at a military or VA medical center, or Mercy Medical Airlift, which helps patients struggling with financial and medical challenges get the distant, specialized care they need.
• Establishing ServeUS, a US Airways employee resource group, to develop and support the strengths of military veterans and their families across the globe.

About US Airways

US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,200 flights per day and serves more than 200 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 21,000 daily flights to 1,185 airports in 185 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, and a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. US Airways was the only airline included as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine’s 50 Report for 2010 and 2011. The airline also earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index for the sixth year in a row. The Corporate Equality index is a leading indicator of companies’ attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. US Airways also ranked #1 among its competing hub-and-spoke network carriers for 2010 performance as rated by the Wichita State University/Purdue University Airline Quality Rating (AQR). For more company information visit usairways.com, follow on Twitter @USAirways or at Facebook.com/USAirways. (LCCG)

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