Release #07.UAL5
November 14, 2007

United Pilots Respond to United/Delta Consolidation ‘Talks’

CHICAGO, Ill.—Contrary to various media reports regarding “talks” between United and Delta concerning a possible consolidation, the United Master Executive Council has established that there are no such talks between the two carriers, according to Captain Mark Bathurst, chairman of the United pilots Master Executive Council, a unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA).

In a statement to the Associated Press, Delta said, “There have been no talks with United regarding any type of consolidation” while United called reports of recent talks “wholly inaccurate.”

“The United pilots have made a significant investment in the future of our airline and have made it abundantly clear to management that we will be opposed to any transaction that does not fully recognize our sacrifices and contributions,” said Captain Bathurst. “We will protect the interests and the future of United pilots. All interested parties should understand that any plans to merge or consolidate with Delta or any other carrier will not be met with a rubber stamp from this pilot group.”

“We also remind management – and Wall Street – that it is the pilots and other employees who have suffered under this management group. Interested parties need to recognize that the true assets of this corporation are the pilots and other employees and we will not sacrifice again to facilitate consolidation,” he said.

ALPA represents 60,000 airline pilots at 42 carriers in the U.S. and Canada. Its website is at www.alpa.org.

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