US Airways completes major liquidity improvement program

US Airways (NYSE: LCC) announced today it has completed a series of transactions with key business partners designed to improve its near-term and future liquidity. The Company will significantly reduce capital expenditures over the next three years, eliminate the need to access aircraft finance markets in 2010 and extend certain debt maturities. These transactions improve projected year-end 2009 liquidity by approximately $150 million and generate, in aggregate, approximately $450 million of projected liquidity improvements by the end of 2010.

"This is our third major strategic move in the past 100 days, following announcements of our innovative slot transaction with Delta Air Lines and the realignment of our network to focus on our most profitable flying," said US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. "These moves are part of our continuing efforts to improve our balance sheet and return the Company to profitability. Our employees are continuing to run a great airline and doing a terrific job taking care of our customers and, with these strategic initiatives behind us, we believe US Airways is well positioned to take full advantage of the recovering economy."

US Airways Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Derek Kerr stated, "By working with our key business and financial partners, we have structured a series of transactions that improve near-term liquidity by reducing capital spending and deferring certain debt repayments. These transactions also have eliminated the need to fund a fleet replacement program in capital markets that continue to be uncertain and expensive. We appreciate all of the support of our business partners in completing these transactions."

The Company's actions include the deferral of 54 Airbus aircraft previously scheduled for delivery between 2010 and 2012 that are now to be delivered in 2013 and beyond. These deferral arrangements will reduce the Company's aircraft capital expenditures over the next three years by approximately $2.5 billion, and reduce near- and medium-term obligations to Airbus and others by approximately $132 million. In addition, commencement of US Airways' Airbus A350 XWB operations, with aircraft deliveries originally scheduled to start in 2015, will now be postponed until 2017. These deferrals will not significantly alter the airline's capacity plans as aircraft originally scheduled to be replaced will be retained until the rescheduled new aircraft delivery dates.

"Although we will slow deliveries during the next three years, over that period we will continue to modernize our fleet, which is already one of the youngest in the United States. The Company will take delivery of two A320 and two A330 aircraft in 2010 and an additional 24 A320 family aircraft in 2011 and 2012," said Kerr. "We have financing commitments for all 28 aircraft and believe this is a more manageable delivery rate given the current economic environment."

In addition to the aircraft deferral, US Airways has arranged credit facilities in the amount of $95 million and $180 million of aircraft financing commitments for the 2010 deliveries. Also, the Company has agreed with Barclays to permanently lower the monthly unrestricted cash condition precedent for the advance purchase of frequent flyer miles and defer for 14 months the amortization of $200 million advanced in connection with the previous purchase of miles.

US Airways was advised in these transactions by Seabury Securities LLC, a unit of Seabury Group LLC.