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 #03.035
April 17, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C.---The following statement was issued jointly today by the Master Executive Councils (MECs) of the Comair and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, both of which are units of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA):

This past Monday, union officers of Comair and Atlantic Southeast Airlines met in Birmingham, Alabama, to discuss the current status of the industry, including matters of specific interest to our respective pilot groups.

Of particular concern to our pilots are the recent concessionary airline labor agreements. Regardless of which airlines avoid or go into bankruptcy, pilots of these airlines have made significant changes to their collective bargaining agreements. Although the officers of the two Master Executive Councils do not want to get into a public discussion of the specifics at this time, we are concerned about the effects of recent industry developments, and are presenting a solid front to deal with them.

The Comair and Atlantic Southeast MECs are united together to defend the profession of the airline pilots at our two carriers. We will not sit idly by, and watch our pilots’ careers be decimated by airline managements and the agreements into which they enter.

In the meantime, we want to assure our memberships that the officers and the union are working to mutually protect our respective pilot groups, our airlines' operations, and our collective futures.

ALPA represents 66,000 airline pilots at 42 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Its Web site is http://www.alpa.org.

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ALPA CONTACT: John Mazor (703) 481-4440