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.
News Release
Release #02.084
September 12, 2002
ALPA Reaffirms Its Opposition to Mesa Air Group’s Forming Freedom Air as an Alter-Ego Carrier
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Executive Board of the Air Line Pilots Association, International, on Wednesday passed a resolution strengthening its commitment to opposing Mesa Air Group’s formation of Freedom Air as an alter-ego carrier.
Citing the Association’s conviction that Freedom Air significantly threatens not only the pilots of Mesa Airlines, but also the entire piloting profession, ALPA pledged to use all appropriate means, including financial, legal, communications, and other resources, to prevent Mesa Air Group from establishing Freedom Air as an alter-ego carrier.
"We believe that Mesa Air Group CEO Jonathan Ornstein will use Freedom Air to divert work from the dedicated Mesa pilots and give our jobs to Freedom Air pilots, who don’t have the benefits or protections of a union contract," said Captain Andrew Hughes, chairman of Mesa Airlines ALPA unit.
"ALPA obviously recognizes the threat Freedom Air presents, especially as we are trying to negotiate much-needed improvements to our own collective bargaining agreement," Hughes said. "Forming Freedom Air is also particularly onerous now when most Mesa Air Group pilots flying for its subsidiary carrier, Charlotte-based CCAir, remain on furlough.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilot union, representing more than 66,000 pilots at 43 airlines in the U.S. and Canada, including 1,254 Mesa Airlines pilots. Visit the ALPA Website at www.alpa.org.
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ALPA Contact: Teresa Mattick (703) 481-4440