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 #03.037
April 28, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The pilots of American Eagle, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), have expressed deep concern and outrage over the recently ratified agreement between the Allied Pilots Association, representing the pilots of American Airlines, and their management which resulted in major concessions from the Eagle pilots even though they were excluded from the negotiation process.

"For the Allied Pilots Association and American management to negotiate over Eagle pilot concessions without our attendance and consent is inexplicable and unconscionable," said Captain Herb Mark, chairman of the American Eagle pilots’ Master Executive Council, a unit of ALPA.

According to ALPA, the new APA agreement takes the highest paying positions away from American Eagle pilots who can least afford this loss.

"The APA agreement causes serious harm to the employee group already shouldering a difficult financial burden," said Mark. "We have every intention to do our part in the recovery of our airline but will not tolerate those who attempt to extract concessions from our pilots behind their backs."

"We will continue to pursue every available avenue to engage management, and we have requested an immediate meeting with AMR’s new CEO, Gerard Arpey in an effort to find a solution," said Mark.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilot union, representing 66,000 pilots at 42 airlines in the U.S. and Canada, including approximately 2,600 American Eagle pilots. Visit the ALPA website at http://www.alpa.org.

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ALPA CONTACT: James Magee, (972) 679-9536