Release #07.AWA2
September 21, 2007

US Airways One Step Closer to Merging Operations to Benefit Passengers, Investors and Employees

PHOENIX – The following statement is from the union leaders of the America West unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l. (ALPA) following a decision of the union’s governing body to present the pilots’ arbitrated seniority award to US Airways management.

“Prior to the merger of America West and US Airways, our two pilot groups negotiated a Transition Agreement with management requiring three components before the operations could be merged—a single FAA operating certificate, a joint collective bargaining agreement, and an integrated seniority list. With management moving forward to obtain the single operating certificate next week and the seniority list complete, a single pilot contract will allow US Airways to complete the merger.

“We have spent nearly two years negotiating for a fair, single contract. During this time, the America West and US Airways pilots have been working for bottom-of-barrel wages and benefits while senior management has literally cashed in millions of dollars available only due to the efforts of labor to position our company for success. We remain focused and committed to achieving a joint contract that benefits our airline and our pilots. Additionally, the America West pilots support US Airways pilots’ quest for parity; however, we believe that all US Airways pilots deserve significant gains that far exceed parity and will continue to work for such within the joint negotiations process.

“As we head back to the bargaining table next week with management, the message is clear: it’s time to put our operations together and obtain the full financial and operational synergies promised to the investors, passengers and employees of US Airways.”

The Air Line Pilots Association is the bargaining agent for the nearly 1,900 pilots at America West Airlines. Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing more than 60,000 pilots at 41 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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ALPA Contact: Captain Tania Bziukiewicz, (602) 214-3490; (602) 306-1208
Lydia Jakub, (602) 794-2882; (480) 586-5873