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Release #01.108
October 29, 2001

Washington, D.C. -- The cockpit crewmembers for American Trans Air, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), today filed for federal mediation in their contract talks with management.

ATA cockpit crewmembers and management started negotiations for a new contract in May 2000. Although some progress has been made, contract talks have stalled in recent months, especially as negotiations turned to substantial economic sections of the contract. The ATA pilots anticipate that the assistance of a National Mediation Board mediator should help the two parties reach a fair agreement.

"We are increasingly frustrated with the pace of the negotiations," said Captain Kevin Friel, chairman of the ALPA unit at ATA. "Management seems to be intentionally slowing the negotiations process."

Because of low costs and pilot sacrifices, ATA is in a uniquely strong position among the major airlines to weather the recent downturn in the industry.

"The pilots of ATA are fully committed to the collective bargaining process," Friel said. "We are also committed to achieving a fair contract for ourselves and our families. ATA crewmembers deserve a contract that includes wages and benefits reflecting the contributions we make to the company and that are in line with airline industry standards."

ATA, the principal subsidiary of Amtram, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMTR), based in Indianapolis, Ind., is the 10th largest U.S. passenger airline, operating scheduled service from Chicago-Midway and Indianapolis to 27 destinations. ATA is also the largest commercial and military passenger charter operator in the nation.

Celebrating its 70th anniversary, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilots union, representing more than 66,000 crewmembers at 47 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA Website at cf.alpa.org.

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