Final US Airways flight set for Friday

The final US Airways flight is scheduled to fly on Friday, as the company’s merger with American Airlines is finalized on Saturday. 

The last US Air flight will travel from Philadelphia to San Francisco, nearly two years after the company’s merger with American Airlines was first announced, according to officials. 

“In 2014 we shared plans to merge with US Airways, creating the world’s largest airline. This Friday, we become one,” American said in a tweet about the final US Air flight. 

In 2014 we shared plans to merge with US Airways, creating the world’s largest airline. This Friday, we become one. pic.twitter.com/88gdKxa4Xa

— American Airlines (@AmericanAir) October 12, 2015

“On 10/17, all US Airways flights will become American,” the company continued. “If your travel date is 10/17 or later, you’ll check in with American. Do so on http://aa.com  or our app.” 

The Federal Aviation Administration gave American and US Airways permission to operate as one airline in April, clearing the way for the end of the US Airways brand, which has been scheduled to be eliminated since the merger was first announced in 2013. 

The companies are scheduled to merge their reservation systems on Saturday to coincide with the disappearance of the US Air brand at airport ticket counters. 

Operating as a solo airline is a big milestone for a merger that was once so controversial that the Department of Justice (DOJ) got involved.

The DOJ sought for the better part of a year to block the merger, arguing that it would violate federal antitrust rules because the airlines had too many similar flights.

The department dropped its opposition to the merger after the companies agreed to give up some of their flights at New York’s LaGuardia and Ronald Reagan Washington National airports.