Release #09.014
April 10, 2009

ALPA Prepares to Welcome AirTran Airways Pilots
NPA Votes Overwhelmingly to Merge with ALPA

WASHINGTON—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), is extremely pleased by the AirTran pilots’ overwhelming vote in support of a merger with the world’s largest pilots union. A landslide 87% of AirTran pilots cast votes in support of merging with ALPA, with more than 94% of eligible AirTran pilots voting. The National Pilots Association (NPA) currently represents the nearly 1,700 pilots of AirTran Airways.

“With this decisive vote, the AirTran pilots made it clear they want representation by a strong international union that is run by airline pilots and for airline pilots,” said Capt. John Prater, president of ALPA. “We look forward to working with the AirTran pilots and to providing the union’s unparalleled professional resources and expertise, as well as the support of other ALPA pilots in Atlanta and across the country, to help them achieve and enforce the fair contract they deserve.”

The merger decision must be ratified by ALPA’s Executive Board when it meets on April 28-29. If that happens as expected, the merger will be effective on May 1, 2009.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union representing more than 52,250 pilots at 35 airlines in the U.S. and Canada.

# # #

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