PSA Smile Returns to US Airways Aircraft

US Airways introduced its employees and the public to the first of its special "throwback" aircraft. The plane was painted in the style of Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) aircraft but with US Airways appearing on the fuselage. The plane boasts the PSA smile painted on the front of the aircraft. US Airways employees who worked for PSA, as well as hundreds of retired PSA employees—some even dressed in the airline's uniforms of the past, including hot pants and go-go boots—joined with US Airways management to dedicate the plane at San Diego International Airport, the former home of PSA. PSA began operations in 1949, flying a leased 31-passenger DC-3 aircraft once a week between San Diego and Oakland via Hollywood/Burbank. In 1987 PSA merged with USAir, which in 1997 changed its name to US Airways. Other throwback aircraft will feature the paint schemes of Allegheny Airlines, America West Airlines and Piedmont Airlines. Each aircraft in the US Airways fleet honors the airline's past by bearing the Heritage symbol, which incorporates the classic logos of the airlines that have merged to create US Airways: Allegheny, America West, PSA and Piedmont.