Release #08.053
November 6, 2008

ALPA Congratulates President-Elect Barack Obama
Election Promises Positive Change for U.S. Airline Pilots

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, issued the following statement on the historic election of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice-president-elect Joe Biden.

“The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) offers sincere congratulations to President-elect Obama and Vice-president-elect Biden on this historic election. Across this nation, the tens of thousands of airline pilots whom ALPA represents are heralding this as a new era for our industry and our profession.

“During his campaign, President-elect Obama expressed his opposition to cabotage and any change to the current policy that prohibits foreign control of U.S. airlines and his strong support for bankruptcy reform and workers’ collective bargaining rights. These fundamentals forge a promising platform of progress for the U.S. airline industry and for its workers and their families.

“ALPA stands ready to work together with the Obama administration to ensure that airline pilots can continue to provide passengers and cargo shippers with safe, secure, and efficient air transportation and that the U.S. airline industry is well-positioned to help drive our country’s economy toward a strong recovery.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union representing more than 53,000 pilots at 37 airlines in the United States and Canada.

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Contacts: Linda Shotwell or Molly Martin, 703/481-4440 or media@alpa.org