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 #03.074
October 21, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Executive Board of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) today unanimously approved the merger between ALPA and the Kittyhawk Pilots Association (KPA), completing the final step in the merger process between the two unions.

The agreement will go into effect January 1, 2004, with the full transfer of representational rights to ALPA. The Kitty Hawk pilots voted October 15 to merge their independent union with ALPA, with 81% voting to accept the proposed merger.

"For 72 years, ALPA has advanced the piloting profession and promoted aviation safety," said Capt. Duane Woerth, president of ALPA. "Our achievements are the direct result of our strength through unity, speaking with one clear voice to represent the collective interests of airline pilots. We are proud to include the Kitty Hawk pilots in that voice, and look forward to their contributions in shaping the future of our great Association," Woerth said.

The KPA Board of Directors approved the Merger Agreement on September 9, 2003, before releasing it to its membership for ratification. ALPA’s Executive Board approval culminates the merger process. All KPA elected representatives will become ALPA representatives, forming the Kitty Hawk Master Executive Council (MEC), with KPA’s chairman, Capt. Tom Gothard, serving as MEC chairman.

"Since 1998, Kitty Hawk pilots have sought to organize with ALPA. Now that the merger is complete, we anticipate taking advantage of ALPA’s vast resources and its highly specialized staff," Gothard said. "We are extremely pleased that the terms of the merger met with the approval of our pilots, and we look forward to starting the new year as members of ALPA. Having recently ratified a new contract, ALPA’s expertise, experience, and the support of its 66,000 members will be a great benefit to our pilot group," Gothard added.

The Merger Agreement provides ALPA membership for KPA members and seamless transition of KPA representation to the ALPA governance structure.

Kitty Hawk is the only large-scale scheduled service solely dedicated to forwarders, both domestic and abroad. Kitty Hawk pilots fly B-727 freighter aircraft servicing more than 50 major airports in the U.S. and Canada.

Formed in 1931, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilots union. ALPA’s Executive Board is made up of the master chairmen from each pilot group within the Association. In addition to Kitty Hawk, ALPA represents 66,000 pilots at 42 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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ALPA CONTACT: John Mazor (703) 481-4440