Release #05.031
August 17, 2005

NMB Releases Polar Air Cargo Crewmembers into 30-Day Cooling-Off Period

WASHINGTON -- Crewmembers of Polar Air Cargo, Inc. ( Polar), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (AAWH) (OTC:AAWW.PK), rejected a proffer of arbitration by the National Mediation Board (NMB) this week, prompting the NMB to release both crewmembers and management from federally mediated negotiations, and triggering the mandatory 30-day countdown to a potential strike at 12:01 a.m. on September 16th.

Capt. Bobb Henderson, chairman of the Polar Air Cargo crewmembers’ unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), said, “Polar Air Cargo crewmembers are prepared to stand together to achieve a long-overdue and fair contract that recognizes the special compensation and work schedule needs of our crewmembers, as well as providing us with job security and financial protections for the future. From day one of these negotiations, we’ve wanted to achieve a fair contract that would both recognize crewmembers’ contributions, and maintain the profitability and viability that will enable Polar to grow and prosper. Our differences on compensation need to be resolved quickly to get us the contract we deserve. Polar crewmembers do not want to strike. We simply want a fair and equitable negotiated settlement so we can continue making this company the first choice of freight forwarders around the world. We will find out shortly if management shares our goal of a negotiated settlement.”

Polar Air Cargo crewmembers have been trying unsuccessfully to negotiate a new contract with management for over two years. After the 30-day cooling-off period expires, crewmembers could strike. 

Polar Air Cargo is a U.S.-certificated all cargo air carrier operating a fleet of 12 Boeing 747 freighters in a global scheduled-service network that serves major trade lanes around the world. Polar Air Cargo was the winner of the prestigious Air Cargo Excellence Award in 2005 which is based on a survey of 20,000 members of the airline and freight forwarding industries. 

Representing more than 64,000 pilots at 41 airlines in the U.S. and Canada, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union. Visit the ALPA website at: http://www.alpa.org.

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ALPA CONTACT: Ron Lovas, (703) 481-4468