RALEIGH - DURHAM, NC—- Pilot union negotiators representing the cockpit crews of Midway Airlines on Sunday reached a tentative contract agreement with management, which is planning to resume the airline`s operations as a US Airways Express carrier.

“We`re eagerly anticipating the resumption of Midway Airlines’ operations and are pleased to have reached a comprehensive agreement that will allow our company to get back on its feet and provide a decent livelihood for our pilots and their families,” said Capt. Mark W. Stewart, the union custodian for the Midway Airlines pilots` unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, International. “Our crews will be happy to get back to work doing what they do best: flying our valued customers to their destinations, always striving to uphold the highest standards of safety and efficiency,” Stewart said.

The pilots` agreement will become effective pending final approval from ALPA`s president, Capt. Duane Woerth, and Stewart.

The carrier, based in Raleigh - Durham, fell on hard times last summer, filing for bankruptcy protection Aug. 13, 2001 and ceasing operations Sept. 12 in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks that devastated the airline industry. A government grant temporarily resuscitated the airline, allowing it to operate from Dec. 19, 2001 to July 17, 2002 before again suspending operations.

Under a letter of intent to provide code-share feed for US Airways, the carrier is planning to resume operations as early as Nov. 1 using a fleet of CL-65 small jets. The carrier`s plans call for the fleet to grow to approximately 18 jets by April 2003.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world`s oldest and largest pilot union, representing more than 66,000 cockpit crewmembers at 43 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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