We always appreciate the oddly forthcoming US Airways emails they’ve been sending to out to customers to keep them apprised of developments during their merger with America West. Turns out the merger almost didn’t happen:

…on September 26th we officially handed over the America West operating certificate to the FAA and formally merged into one airline. Yes, there really was a handover ceremony, and for a few weeks we couldn’t find the original America West certificate. Turns out it was in use as part of a company heritage display. No certificate, no merger. Wouldn’t that have been embarrassing?

Aw, that’s almost cute. Can’t find the operating certificate…passengers stranded on the tarmac for hours….anyone else seeing a correlation?

(Thanks to c-side!)

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