ALPA's Communications Department provides information and support for news media inquiries. An ALPA communications representative can be reached in the Herndon, Va. office at (703) 481-4440.

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News Release

Release # 01.130
December 19, 2001

ALPA Concerned over Air 2000 Filing in Canada

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) has opposed attempts by a United Kingdom-based charter operator to initiate service between several Canadian cities and the Caribbean later this month, noting the current economic hardship faced by the North American aviation industry.

ALPA told the Canadian Transportation Agency that the application by Air 2000 to fly the routes was "not in the public interest at this time" when many Canadian pilots were facing furlough. The Association made similar arguments before the U.S. Department of Transportation, as Air 2000 also proposed flying to southern U.S. warm-weather destinations from Chicago, IL.

Air 2000’s original application asked to begin service from Toronto; a second application filed late last week expanded that request to more than a half-dozen Canadian cities. ALPA argued that the frequent flights planned by Air 2000 amounted to scheduled operations rather than a charter.

ALPA’s president, Capt Duane Woerth, said, "Following the tragedy of September 11th, and the ensuing fall-off in air traffic, there has been a considerable loss of revenue for Canadian air carriers, the collapse of Canada 3000, and major job losses in the airline industry, particularly in the leisure travel sector. At this time it is not in the public interest to allow foreign carriers to access a Canadian origination market when there are Canadian carriers capable of providing the services for which Air 2000 is seeking authorization, and when the continued existence of some Canadian carriers is in jeopardy."

ALPA, the world’s oldest and largest professional organization of airline pilots, represents 66,000 pilots at 47 carriers in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at http://cf.alpa.org.

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ALPA Contacts: Ron Lovas, John Mazor (703) 481-4440