Release #02.081
September 3, 2002

RALEIGH – DURHAM, NC --- Pilot union negotiators representing the cockpit crews of Midway Airlines on Sunday reached a tentative contract agreement with management, which is planning to resume the airline's operations as a US Airways Express carrier.

"We're eagerly anticipating the resumption of Midway Airlines’ operations and are pleased to have reached a comprehensive agreement that will allow our company to get back on its feet and provide a decent livelihood for our pilots and their families," said Capt. Mark W. Stewart, the union custodian for the Midway Airlines pilots' unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, International. "Our crews will be happy to get back to work doing what they do best: flying our valued customers to their destinations, always striving to uphold the highest standards of safety and efficiency," Stewart said.

The pilots' agreement will become effective pending final approval from ALPA's president, Capt. Duane Woerth, and Stewart.

The carrier, based in Raleigh – Durham, fell on hard times last summer, filing for bankruptcy protection Aug. 13, 2001 and ceasing operations Sept. 12 in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks that devastated the airline industry. A government grant temporarily resuscitated the airline, allowing it to operate from Dec. 19, 2001 to July 17, 2002 before again suspending operations.

Under a letter of intent to provide code-share feed for US Airways, the carrier is planning to resume operations as early as Nov. 1 using a fleet of CL-65 small jets. The carrier's plans call for the fleet to grow to approximately 18 jets by April 2003.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world's oldest and largest pilot union, representing more than 66,000 cockpit crewmembers at 43 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

###

ALPA CONTACT: David Berkley, (703) 481-4456