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                                    FORM 8-A

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR (G) OF THE

                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                           AMERICA WEST AIRLINES, INC.
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             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


          DELAWARE                                               86-0418245
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   (STATE OF INCORPORATION                                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
       OR ORGANIZATION)                                     IDENTIFICATION  NO.)


 4000 EAST SKY HARBOR BOULEVARD
        PHOENIX, ARIZONA                                           85034
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     (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL                                       (ZIP CODE)
       EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:   NONE.

       IF THIS FORM RELATES TO THE REGISTRATION OF A CLASS OF DEBT SECURITIES
AND IS EFFECTIVE UPON FILING PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION A.(C)(1), PLEASE
CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX. / /

       IF THIS FORM RELATES TO THE REGISTRATION OF A CLASS OF DEBT SECURITIES
AND IS TO BECOME EFFECTIVE SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A CONCURRENT
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 PURSUANT TO GENERAL
INSTRUCTION A.(C)(2), PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX. /X/

SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:

                         SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES DUE 2005
                                (TITLE OF CLASS)


                                                                            
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ITEM 1.       DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.

        A description of the Senior Unsecured Notes due 2005 of America West
Airlines, Inc. (the "Registrant") to be registered hereunder is set forth under
the caption "Description of the New Notes" contained in the Prospectus included
in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed on July 18, 1995
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, which description is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 2.       EXHIBITS.

       The following exhibit to this Registration Statement on Form 8-A is 
incorporated herein by reference:

              1.     The section entitled "Description of the New Notes"
        contained in the Prospectus included in the Registrant's Registration
        Statement on Form S-4, filed on July 18, 1995 with the Securities and
        Exchange Commission.

       The following exhibit to this Registration Statement on Form 8-A is
incorporated by reference to the document specified, which is filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission:

              2.     Form of New Note Indenture relating to $75,000,000 
       Principal Amount of Senior Unsecured Notes due 2005 between 
       America West Airlines, Inc. and the trustee named therein, filed by 
       amendment as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement 
       on Form S-4.


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                                    SIGNATURE

              Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

Dated:   July 18, 1995


AMERICA WEST AIRLINES, INC.


          /s/ STEPHEN L. JOHNSON
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              Stephen L. Johnson
        Vice President - Legal Affairs


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