America West Not for Sale? Yeah, Right

Either America West Airlines (AWA Quote) is playing very hard to get or the recently rumored sale of the carrier is toast.

Late Monday, Bill Franke, the chairman of America West, called a press conference in Phoenix. Reading from a prepared statement, he said America West has taken the for-sale sign from its front yard, and declined to take any questions.

Franke said: "In discharging its fiduciary obligation to shareholders, and after careful review of the highly conditioned expressions of interest and of antitrust, regulatory and employee issues, the board of directors unanimously concluded that America West's shareholders, employees and the communities we operate in will be better served by a growing, profitable and independent company." ...