Release #01.71
July 12, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Leaders of the Air Line Pilots Association’s Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo groups, Capt. Greg Amussen and Capt. Bob Fell, respectively, issued the following joint statement on Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.’s, announcement yesterday on its intention to purchase Polar Air Cargo from GE Capital Aviation Services:

"Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings has announced that the company has entered into an agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services to purchase Polar Air Cargo. While the terms and specifications are not fully disclosed, it is our understanding that Atlas intends to operate Atlas and Polar Air Cargo as separate airlines, and that, for the time being, Polar Air Cargo will continue to be headquartered in Long Beach, CA.

The leadership of the pilots and professional flight engineers (PFEs) of both Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo stand committed to working together to ensure our pilots’ interests are safeguarded, and enhanced, during this transitional period and beyond. We are members of the same professional union, and will cooperate under the auspices of ALPA to arrive at solutions to any challenges that we may face ahead."

ALPA represents the nearly 750 pilots and PFEs at Atlas and the more than 320 pilots and PFEs at Polar Air Cargo. Celebrating its 70^th anniversary, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilots union, representing 66,000 members at 47 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at cf.alpa.org.

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