Release #05.PCL
January 20, 2005

PCL Pilots and Management Open Contract Negotiations

MEMPHIS - The Pinnacle Airlines Master Executive Council (MEC), a unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, International, announced the start of contract negotiations under Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act (RLA) with Pinnacle management this month. The negotiations process began January 19 in Memphis, TN. 

"We are very optimistic about achieving a quality contract that compensates our pilots for the high level of productivity that has supported Pinnacle's growth," said Capt. Wakefield Gordon, chairman of the Pinnacle pilots' union.

Pinnacle Airline Corporation (NASDAQ: PNCL), which flies under the Northwest Airlink banner, maintains unit costs that are among the lowest in the industry, which is made possible by above average productivity, according to data released by the company. The amount of hours Pinnacle pilots fly per month is among the highest in the industry. 

Pinnacle is recognized as the most reliable operator of Canadair Regional Jet aircraft in the U.S. and often the world, according to management reports.

Contract negotiations in the airline industry are governed by a federal statute - the Railway Labor Act. The RLA sets the rules for collective bargaining, representation, and grievance processing in the airline and railroad industries. Section 6 is the provision of the RLA that defines how airline management and the union can start and continue collective bargaining to amend applicable working conditions.

The Air Line Pilots Association is the bargaining agent for the 1,100 pilots at Pinnacle Airlines Corp. ALPA is the world's oldest and largest pilot union, representing 64,000 pilots at 43 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA Web site at http://www.alpa.org.

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Contacts: 

Wake Gordon, at (901) 527-0355 or wakegordon@bellsouth.net 

Kimberly Seitz at (703) 481-4463 or kimberly.seitz@alpa.org