Alaska Air: No deal

Alaska Air Group on Friday denied a BusinessWeek report that it is considering buying America West and joining the planned merger with US Airways.

Alaska said that although it does not usually comment on rumors, it decided to speak out because of extensive media coverage and the uncertainty the speculation creates among workers.

``We have no current plans to become involved in a transaction with America West or US Airways and have not spoken with the investor mentioned in the original news story reporting this rumor,`` Alaska said in a statement.

BusinessWeek, citing fund manager Vince Carrino of California-based Brookhaven Capital Management, reported on its Web site Thursday that Alaska`s top management was considering buying America West to grow and avoid becoming a potential takeover target.

Carrino did not return calls Thursday or Friday.

America West`s stock rose 5 percent Friday on the buyout speculation, closing at $6.45. It was one of only two major airline stocks to gain value for the day. -- TONY MECIA

Brainy entertainment

America West said it has reached an agreement with the creators of the board game Cranium to provide in-flight entertainment aboard three-quarters of its planes.

Starting this week, America West passengers on Airbuses and Boeing 757s can watch videos that feature word scrambles, puzzles and factoids from Cranium.

``The Cranium games featured on America West flights make travel time outrageously fun,`` said Richard Tait, described in a news release as Cranium`s ``Grand Poo-Bah.`` -- TONY MECIA

Bad baggage numbers

For the third straight month, US Airways had the second-highest rate of complaints about mishandled baggage, according to a Department of Transportation report released this week.In April, US Airways had 10.91 reports of lost luggage per 1,000 passengers -- more than double the average of 19 airlines in the monthly survey. Only Atlantic Southeast Airlines, with a rate of 15.75 reports per 1,000, was higher.

US Airways said it has attempted to improve its operations, including baggage handling, by focusing on on-time departures. It has also hired additional baggage handlers in hubs. -- TONY MECIA

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