TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –US Airways (LCC:NYSE) flight attendant Bette Nash celebrates 55 years of dedicated service with the airline this month. Ms. Nash has the distinction of being the most tenured flight attendant at US Airways with a hire date of Nov. 4, 1957.
Nash, who is based in US Airways’ Washington, D.C. focus city, began her aviation career with Eastern Airlines, flying on the carrier’s Lockheed Constellation 1049 aircraft. In 1961, she began flying for the Eastern Air Shuttle, which provided flights every two hours between New York’s LaGuardia, Washington National and Boston Logan airports. Over the years, the Eastern Air Shuttle became the Trump Shuttle, the USAir Shuttle and today’s US Airways Shuttle, where Bette continues the proud tradition of these airlines, flying between her home base at Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport, Boston and New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
[quote]”Bette’s dedication to providing excellent customer service helps make US Airways a better airline,” said Hector Adler, US Airways’ vice president, inflight services. “Bette has witnessed many changes in the airline industry in her 55-year career, but one thing hasn’t changed and that is her continued commitment to customer service and the admiration for her among her colleagues. We are extremely honored to recognize her lifetime of commitment to our company and our customers.” [/quote]
Nash is one of three US Airways flight attendants with more than 50 years of service. In June 2011 Carolyn Baker celebrated 50 years with the airline. Sali Burgard marked her 50th anniversary this month with US Airways. Baker and Burgard are based in the airline’s Charlotte, N.C. hub and began their careers with Mohawk and Allegheny Airlines, respectively. Both carriers became part of today’s US Airways and the airline is proud to continue their legacies.
US Airways plans to hire approximately 450 flight attendants this fall and winter, with the first group of new crew members taking to the skies in early 2013. The new positions will fill those left by flight attendants who are retiring and those created by the airline replacing Boeing 737 aircraft with larger Airbus A321 aircraft and bringing on new Airbus A330 widebody aircraft.
[box type=”tick”]About US Airways
US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates nearly 3,200 flights per day and serves more than 200 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide, operates the world’s largest fleet of Airbus aircraft and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 21,500 daily flights to 1,356 airports in 193 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, and a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance magazine presented US Airways with the 2012 Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of the Year Award for demonstrating outstanding achievement and innovation in the area of technical operations. Military Times Edge magazine named US Airways as a Best of Vets employer in 2011 and 2012. US Airways was, for the third year in a row, the only airline included as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine’s 50 Report. The airline also earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index for six consecutive years. The Corporate Equality index is a leading indicator of companies’ attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. [/box]