Release #12.1 ATI-CCI
May 11, 2012

Pilots Respond to Air Transport International and Capital Cargo International Airlines Merger

WASHINGTON, DC— The pilot groups of Air Transport International (ATI) and Capital Cargo International Airlines (CCIA), both represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) today said that they see value in the announced merger between the two cargo carriers. Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (ATSG), parent company of the carriers, announced the merger of the two airlines on May 10.

“Our crews have been through a lot of change recently, but we welcome this plan to merge and hope to see the benefits of combining operations and pilot groups,” said First Officer Chuck Hill, chairman of ALPA’s Capital Cargo chapter.

“This merger will ensure the survival of an airline and many jobs,” said Captain Brendan Twomey, chairman of ALPA’s ATI chapter. “We believe that working together will create great opportunities for our crewmembers.”

Both pilot groups are working closely with ALPA staff to make sure that provisions are in place to protect the interests of the crewmembers as the carriers merge.

The crewmembers of Capital Cargo joined ALPA in 2007 and ATI joined in 2009. Because ALPA represents both pilot groups, ALPA’s merger policy will come into effect to ensure both groups are protected.

The 255 pilots and professional flight engineers of ATI fly McDonnell Douglas DC-8 and Boeing 767 aircraft for passenger, military, and cargo operations around the world. The 128 CCIA crewmembers operate B-727-200s and B-757-200 freighter conversions as an aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) carrier, providing airport-to-airport transportation services both domestically and internationally.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing nearly 53,000 pilots at 37 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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ALPA Contacts:
Tawnya Burket, ALPA Communications—(724) 622-6738
Chuck Hill, CCI MEC Chairman—(256) 289-0428
Brendan Twomey, ATI MEC Chairman—(603) 369-2554