WASHINGTON, D.C.—- Today, professional pilots and flight engineers of Atlas Air, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), ratified a 42-month contract that includes improvements in compensation, scheduling, and job security over the life of the agreement. Of the 531 crewmembers eligible to vote, 93 percent participated with 82 percent casting ballots in favor of the agreement.

“The contract recognizes and maintains our contributions to the profitability and viability needed for Atlas Air to grow and prosper,” said Capt. David Bourne, chairman of the Atlas Air pilots’ unit. “I also want to acknowledge the company for its willingness to listen to our concerns and needs.”

“After more than two years of negotiations, Atlas crewmembers finally have a contract that recognizes our professionalism and investments in this airline,” said Captain Bourne. “I want to thank all the Atlas crewmembers for their resolve and support.”

Atlas Air crewmembers have been negotiating since April 2000 for their first collective bargaining agreement with management. The National Mediation Board (NMB) assigned a federal mediator to facilitate the contract negotiations in September 2000. In a January 2002 ratification ballot, 70 percent of the Atlas Air cockpit crewmembers rejected a tentative agreement that their negotiators had reached with management. In late May 2002, the union rejected a proffer of arbitration by the NMB, which prompted the NMB to release both the union and management from negotiations and triggered a 30-day countdown to a potential strike at 12:01 a.m. on June 28. The agreement between the Association and management was reached on June 28.

“This agreement between the crewmembers of Atlas Air and their management is an excellent example of the Railway Labor Act and the collective bargaining process at work,” declared Capt. Duane Woerth, president of ALPA. “Both parties worked hard to achieve a fair agreement,” he added.

Atlas Air is a worldwide all-cargo carrier that operates a fleet of Boeing 747 freighters primarily under long-term contracts with the world`s major international airlines. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

ALPA is the world`s oldest and largest pilots union, representing 66,000 members at 43 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA Website at http://www.alpa.org.

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