New team lifts America West. (America West Airlines Inc.)

Bill Franke says his new team of managers at America West has a fresh, younger set of wings poised to take the airline to new heights in 1996.

The appointment of nine top vice presidents during 1995 - five in their 20s or 30s - is expected to lead the airline into the next century, said Franke, CEO of America West Airlines Inc.

Franke, a Phoenix businessman who took over in 1992 and helped guide the carrier back to profitability, said his role has been to bring the airline to the next stage of management "that is as competent as we can find."

New America West senior managers not only will have to be competent but also effective, if the Tempe-based airline is to continue on its flight plan.

America West plans to boost departures by 17 percent in 1996, with daily flights out of Phoenix jumping from 163 to 204, Eight cities will be added to its network and the airline is expected to add 10 planes.

While many of the new faces in America West's corporate office are in their 30s, a few of the new top bananas are over 40.

Vice president and senior vice president positions went to two individuals in their mid-40s and two in their early 50s.

"It would be fair to say that we have some very young, bright senior managers here - all well-educated and well-trained with a background in the airline industry," Franke …