Release #01.32
April 12, 2001

HOUSTON, TX – The pilots and flight instructors of Continental and Continental Express Airlines today voted to merge their independent union, the Independent Association of Continental Pilots (IACP), with the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA).

With 92% of the eligible IACP members voting, 3,238 members – or 61% – voted in favor of the merger. The American Arbitration Association, which conducted all aspects of the balloting process, certified the results.

"I am extremely pleased with the result of this vote," said Capt. Pat Burke, president of IACP. "I firmly believe that this merger is in the best interest of our pilots and flight instructors, and know that with ALPA representation we can achieve our goals in upcoming negotiations."

ALPA’s Executive Board, scheduled to meet next month, is expected to approve the Merger Agreement. The Agreement will then go into effect June 1.

"This is a very significant day for ALPA and for the profession," said Capt. Duane Woerth, president of ALPA. "I thank the Continental and Continental Express pilots and flight instructors for fully engaging in the process and deciding their future. This would not have been possible without the support of IACP President Pat Burke and the rest of the IACP leadership. ALPA’s commitment to this group has always been — and will continue to be — to provide the resources to help them achieve their goals in upcoming negotiations."

The IACP Board of Directors endorsed the IACP-ALPA Merger Agreement Dec. 12, 2000. ALPA’s Executive Council approved it two days later. ALPA initiated a communications program with the IACP that included joint visits by IACP officers and ALPA members in the Continental and Continental Express crewrooms.

The Agreement provides ALPA membership for IACP members, seamless transition of IACP representation to the ALPA governance structure, the provision of necessary negotiations support by ALPA, retention of all current IACP funds within the Continental and Continental Express pilot group after the merger, and maintenance of a fully-staffed office in Houston.

The IACP has represented the almost 7,000 professional pilots of Continental and Continental Express Airlines since the union’s formation in 1993. The companies’ flight instructors voted to join the IACP only last year. Continental and Continental Express serve the U.S., Europe, South and Central America, and the Pacific Rim through major hubs in Cleveland, Houston, Newark, Honolulu and Guam.

Formed in 1931, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilots union. Following the merger with IACP, ALPA will represent 65,000 pilots at 49 airlines. ALPA’s Web site is http://cf.alpa.org.

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Contact: James H. Moody (IACP) — 281-987-3636

Anya Piazza (ALPA) — 703-481-4440