Release #ASA10.01
September 3, 2010

Atlantic Southeast Airlines Pilots Encouraged by Management Talks with ExpressJet
Merger Between the Two Airlines Appears Promising

Atlanta—Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), today expressed strong support for the pilots of ExpressJet and the proposed merger of the two airlines. Just last month, ASA’s parent company, SkyWest Holdings Inc., announced it intends to purchase ExpressJet and to combine it with ASA. This week, the ASA and ExpressJet pilot groups developed a framework with the managements of SkyWest and ASA to complete a transition agreement and to address pilot concerns.

“We’re very pleased that SkyWest and ASA managements were able to work with the parties involved and find common ground,” said Capt. Dave Nieuwenhuis, chair of the ASA unit of ALPA. “As we move forward in the merger process, pilot support will be increasingly important to a successful outcome. The ASA pilots are committed to a process that provides for long-term career growth and stability for all pilots involved.”

Should the merger be concluded, ASA would be the largest regional airline in the world, with approximately 4,300 pilots, and would rival many mainline carriers in size and number of destinations. The merged airline would also have a substantially larger route structure, widening its footprint to include the entire United States rather than just the Southeast.

“The road to any merger can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be,” continued Capt. Nieuwenhuis. “If crafted, developed and administered well, the merger of ASA and XJT can lead to a corporate platform that serves as a model for the rest of the industry—a safe, high quality, efficient, and profitable powerhouse that respects and shares success with its hardworking professionals. We look forward to accomplishing this goal.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union and represents almost 53,000 pilots at 38 airlines in the U.S. and Canada, including approximately 1,700 pilots at ASA. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

###

ALPA CONTACTS:
Captain Rick Bernskoetter—(678) 640-4510 or rick.bernskoetter@alpa.org
Jen Lofquist—(703) 481-4459 or jennifer.lofquist@alpa.org