US Airways merger gains federal recognition

US Airways Group Inc., created in a 2005 merger with America West Holdings Corp., gained official recognition as a single airline yesterday from federal regulators.

It is Philadelphia's dominant carrier. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a single operating certificate to the Tempe, Ariz., carrier.

Work toward the unified certificate began shortly after the two airlines combined on Sept. 27, 2005. "This is a very important milestone," chief executive officer Doug Parker said in a statement.

US Airways had to combine "two sets of policies, procedures, manuals, checklists and computer systems for virtually every area of the airline." US Airways still must negotiate single labor contracts for four major employee groups, including pilots, before it can fully integrate operations