Release #02.010
January 28, 2002

Atlas Air ALPA Pilots and Management Reach Tentative Agreement on New Contract

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives from the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), and Atlas Air reached a tentative agreement on January 25, 2002, after 21 months of negotiations, for a new contract covering the airline’s 621 pilots and flight engineers. The proposed four-year agreement includes new pay rates as well as improvements in work rules, retirement, and other areas of the contract.

Capt. Greg Amussen, chairman of the Atlas Air pilot’s unit of ALPA, stated, "We were able to resolve numerous issues during these very difficult and hard-fought negotiations, given the dramatic change of landscape in this industry over the last few months. I’m pleased to report that we were able to accomplish many of the goals we established over 20 months ago when we began these negotiations. I’m also confident that we’ve established a strong first contract foundation for future negotiations," he said.

"Our negotiating committee devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy to turn these talks into a tangible agreement," he added. "It’s now up to our members to make the final decision."

Following the parties’ development and refinement of the proposed contract language, the tentative agreement is subject to approval by Atlas Air’s pilots and flight engineers. "We are very comfortable in our recommendation that our members ratify this contract," Amussen added.

Atlas Air is the world’s third-largest cargo carrier and the world’s largest operator of Boeing 747 freighters. Last year, the airline received the distinction of being ranked the world’s most financially fit carrier.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilots union representing 66,000 crewmembers at 46 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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