Release 07.AAA-AWA
January 30, 2007

Pilots of US Airways Picket at Company Headquarters
Pilots share passengers’ frustration, and demand fair, single contract

What: Pilots Picketing in Tempe, Ariz.

Working on the front lines, the pilots of America West and US Airways have seen first-hand the negative impact on passengers caused by management’s inability to combine the two airlines and share in their frustration. The quality of operations has deteriorated due to US Airways management ignoring the needs of the airline, its employees, and its passengers to chase a dream of building a bigger airline. Bigger doesn’t always translate into better, and US Airways management must complete the unfinished business from the first merger so together with labor, they can build a bigger and better airline for their passengers.

Who: America West, US Airways Pilots
 
When: Thursday, February 1, 2007
 
Where: US Airways Headquarters
Rio Salado & Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, Ariz.
12-12:45 p.m. MST

Great visuals of pilots picketing in uniform. Spokespeople will be available.

Why:

After more than a year of negotiations, the pilots of America West and US Airways have had enough of management’s empty promises and are demanding a fair, single contract. This would be a significant step in merging the two airlines and improving operations for the flying public. To date, the company has refused to move off of a bankruptcy-era contract. There has been little or no significant progress made in terms of pay, benefits and quality-of-life issues.

The America West and US Airways pilots provide a quality service for their passengers and are US Airways' largest investors. With US Airways reporting an extremely profitable year ($303 million, including special items), management has rewarded themselves with raises, bonuses and stock options and pursued a billion-dollar deal at the expense of the company and its employees. Meanwhile, the pilots are stuck with bottom-of-the-barrel compensation and benefits until a new contract is achieved. Despite public statements to the contrary, management continues to view negotiations with a bankruptcy mentality rather than consider the pilots’ value and look at the economic and operational synergies yet to be achieved with a combined pilot group.

The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l. is the bargaining agent for both the America West and US Airways pilot groups. Founded in 1931, ALPA represents 60,000 pilots at 40 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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ALPA Contacts:
Lydia Jakub, 602-306-1208 (office) or 480-586-5873 (cell)
Captain Tania Bziukiewicz, 602-306-1208 (office) or 602-214-3490 (cell)
Captain Arnie Gentile, 518-424-8433 (cell)