Release #08.RYN
February 15, 2008

Ryan International Airlines Pilots Reach Tentative Contract Agreement With Management

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ryan International Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), announced today that they have reached a tentative agreement (TA) with management on a new pilot contract after more than two and a half years of negotiations.

The agreement gives pilots an average 40 percent pay increase throughout the life of the four-year contract in addition to significant improvements in nearly every section of the contract, including retirement, scheduling, vacations, training, benefits and more.

“Our union leaders and Negotiating Committee stand firmly behind this tentative agreement as we believe it provides Ryan pilots with many of the improvements they mandated,” said Captain Erik Sparks, head of the ALPA unit at Ryan International Airlines. “But this deal will also greatly benefit our company in that we believe many of its provisions will serve to strengthen the airline’s operations and improve productivity. It’s a win, win proposition.”

Pilots have been frustrated by the tumultuous negotiating process. They look forward to a more collaborative relationship with management based on mutual respect and teamwork.

“Pilots want Ryan Airlines to succeed and prosper, and we believe this new agreement, once ratified by our members, will help solidify our airline’s path to success as it addresses many inefficiencies noted by pilots in the course of their daily routine,” said Sparks. “We are pleased to have the ability to give the company input to positively impact our airline’s operations.”

Pilots and management will work over the course of the next few days to finalize contract language. Once that is completed, pilot leaders will begin a series of teleconferences to present their members with the full terms and conditions of the new tentative agreement before conducting a membership vote on the TA.

The pilots of Ryan International Airlines provide service throughout the globe, flying Boeing 767s, 757s, 737s and MD83s on contracts for the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Justice. The airline also serves the traveling public through contracts with Apple Vacations, Funjet, Aero Sur and TravelSpan, among others. ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union representing more than 60,000 cockpit crewmembers at 43 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

ALPA Contacts:   Captain Erik Sparks, 704-622-6341
  Anya Piazza, 703-626-7926