The president of the Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, expressed strong support today for the pilots at American Eagle Airlines during their contract discussions with American Airlines Group management.

"APA supports our brothers and sisters at Eagle in their efforts to obtain an agreement that would ensure the current aircraft deliveries and regional flying stay at American Eagle," said APA President Capt. Keith Wilson. "The pilots of American Eagle have gone through the same bankruptcy restructuring process as we have here at the new American, and as such, they have already made significant sacrifices resulting in nearly $43 million in contract concessions. The current collective bargaining agreement has helped align Eagle's cost structure with that of its competitors, allowing Eagle to continue to provide regional lift to American."

William Sprague, chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association's American Eagle Master Executive Council, explained, "While the pilots of American Eagle worked hard to meet all of management's demands during bankruptcy, only 10 days after the new American Airlines Group exited bankruptcy, the pilots of American Eagle were asked to again renegotiate their contract. The pilots were presented with a new term sheet asking for additional cuts to pay and benefits, adding new work rules that constitute vast changes to this new contract. This was in exchange for a vague promise of replacement aircraft."

Capt. Wilson added that "APA leadership's position is that there is simply no need for management to take another 'bite at the apple' from the Eagle pilots immediately following a bankruptcy contract. Rather, management should ensure some level of career stability for those pilots and prevent yet another race to the bottom that has, of late, plagued the regional airline industry."

Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association -- the largest independent pilots' union in the United States -- is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union's website is www.alliedpilots.org. American Airlines is the nation's largest international passenger carrier and fifth-largest cargo carrier.

Allied Pilots Association
Captain Tom Hoban, 817-302-2350 / 817-937-4796
or
Gregg Overman, 817-302-2250 / 817-312-3901