US Airways Management and America West Pilots to Open Separate Negotiations

PHOENIX (Map) - PHOENIX, March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways (NYSE: LCC) management received notification today from the America West pilots requesting to commence separate contract negotiations under Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act.

Also today, the America West pilots have begun separate negotiations with US Airways management on future Airbus A330-200 widebody flying.

Following is a statement from Captain John McIlvenna, chairman of the union leadership group representing the America West pilots.

"America West pilots have lost all patience with this merger. For nearly three years, we have been working with our brothers and sisters at the former US Airways to complete a joint contract. We had hoped that this process would prove fruitful for all pilots of the new US Airways; however, we have come to the point where we are leaving millions of dollars on the table each month for management to pocket. As a result, the pilots I represent are angry, frustrated and asking what was in this merger for us. It appears as if the answer is nothing.

"Since the America West-US Airways merger was consummated, more than 400 US Airways East (former US Air) pilots have been able to upgrade to captain positions, yet less than 40 US Airways West (former America West) pilots have been offered the same opportunity. It's long past time for management to make this merger right for the hard working pilots out West, whose contributions and sacrifices enabled the creation of the new US Airways."

The America West pilots' current contract became amendable December 2006, with provisions that allowed for the parties to open negotiations in June 2006. The US Airways pilots' contract is not amendable until December 2009. Prior to the merger, the two pilot groups negotiated a Transition Agreement with management that (among other things) recognized the rights of America West pilots to enter into Section 6 negotiations separately with management at any time. Until now, those negotiations were in recess, as both pilot groups had been dedicating themselves to completing a joint contract with management.

The America West pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l. (ALPA). Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world's largest pilot union, representing 61,000 pilots at 43 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.