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 #03.091
December 19, 2003

Jazz Pilots Respond to Air Canada Order for Small Jets from Bombardier and Embraer

OTTAWA -- The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), International’s 1400 Air Canada Jazz pilots are pleased with today’s corporate announcement on the selection of the small jets that will form the core of Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz’s North American fleet strategy as part of the global restructuring exercise. Jazz Air Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air Canada, is a current operator of small jets on behalf of Air Canada.

“We are fully supportive of Air Canada’s corporate vision to renew and expand the small jet fleet as part of the ongoing financial and operational restructuring of Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz,” said Captain Nick DiCintio, chairman of the Air Canada Jazz pilots’ unit of ALPA. “We are confident that Air Canada is responding appropriately to the rapidly evolving marketplace in announcing a combination of expansion to the existing Bombardier CRJ fleet, as well as the introduction of the new Embraer 190 aircraft” he added.

The Air Canada Jazz pilots have been working cooperatively with Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz throughout the restructuring with a view to realigning fleet and costs to ensure Air Canada’s continued success in the increasingly competitive North American market with the ultimate objective of maximizing shareholder value and economic return for all stakeholders.

“We view the announcement of a renewed and expanded small jet fleet to be another positive step within CCAA which will certainly lead to the successful restructuring of Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz,” emphasised Captain DiCintio.

The next step in the restructuring process will be an arbitration concerning the allocation of these aircraft before Mr. Martin Teplitsky, the arbitrator agreed upon by the Jazz pilots and the Air Canada Pilots when earlier negotiations concerning this issue proved inconclusive. Such process is already underway and a final determination is expected in advance of Air Canada’s exit from CCAA protection.

ALPA, the world’s oldest and largest union of airline pilots, represents 66,000 pilots at 43 carriers in Canada and the U.S. Air Canada Jazz provides service to over 70 destinations in Canada and the United States, and services more communities in Canada than any other airline. Visit the ALPA website: http://www.alpa.org.

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ALPA CONTACT: Captain Nick DiCintio 514-961-2572 (English and French)