US Airways, one of the U.S.' premiere airlines, will fly its last flight Friday night with Flight 1939. Named after its founding year, the last flight, routing from Philadelphia, to Charlotte, Phoenix, and then San Francisco, will be the final departure flight under the name of US Airways before it finally merges with American Airlines, according to ABC News.
There will festivities on both San Francisco and Philadelphia stops, complete with champagne toasts.
"We definitely wanted to give a nod to US Airways and everyone that helped us build this airline," said Martha Thomas, spokeswoman for American Airlines, according to USA Today. "We wanted to make it a special experience for employees and customers."
When the new millennium hit its mark, the U.S. still had 10 major airlines covering domestic flights. The airlines have since merged into four major airlines, namely American, Delta, Southwest and United, CNN reported.
"I don't think it's bad at all," Brett Snyder of The Cranky Flier said on whether the merge of these carriers contribute positively for travelers.
"Fares have come down lately. You still see these guys fighting with each other. But is there as much competition as there was? No, of course not, because there are fewer carriers."
"I guess from the customers' standpoint, you could argue that it would be better to have 20 tiny airlines losing money and taking you places cheap. But that's not sustainable," Snyder added, CNN reported.
Most passengers of Flight 1939 will be aviation fanatics or "avgeeks" riding on the final flight.
"I grew up seeing and hearing USAir's planes land all the time," said Mark Litell, who grew up near the Pittsburgh airport in the 1990s, USA Today reported. "Most families in my community were directly impacted by the hub there, and I eventually worked in concessions in the airport's US Airways terminal by the time I was in high school."
