CHARLOTTE, N.C. - June 15, 2010 The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, today announced support for Spirit Airlines pilots, who initiated a strike this weekend over sub-par pay and working conditions. In solidarity, US Airways pilots joined Spirit pilots and other airline crews on the picket line last week in advance of the strike, which officially began on Saturday morning.

"US Airways pilots could not sympathize more with the Spirit pilots, since the similarities in our conditions are striking," said USAPA President Mike Cleary. "Like us, the Spirit pilots gave up pay, working conditions and benefits when our managements needed to save our airlines. Like us, the Spirit pilots have been working at the bottom of the industry pay scale and without a pay raise for years. Like us, their management team has dragged out contract talks for nearly four years. Like us, their management is attempting to impose below-standard pay and working conditions in the face of an improving economy."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - March 10, 2010 -The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, today announced support for the conditions imposed by the Department of Transportation (DOT) on US Airways' proposed slot swap with Delta Airlines. USAPA also reaffirms its request to the Department of Justice for a full investigation to expose likely anti-competitive results of the deal. The deal would give Delta 51% of New York-LaGuardia Airport departures and US Airways 58% of the Reagan Washington National Airport departures.

The two airlines submitted a joint waiver request from the prohibition on purchasing slots at New York LaGuardia Airport. The waiver would allow US Airways to transfer 125 pairs of slots to Delta, plus a lease/option of an additional 15 pairs of slots at LaGuardia Airport. The waiver also allows Delta to transfer 43 pairs of slots to US Airways at Reagan Washington National Airport. A pair of slots is one takeoff and one landing.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – March 3, 2010 – Members of the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, will join Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger, III, today to celebrate his retirement at age 59. Captain Sullenberger, the pilot in command during the world-renowned ditching of US Airways Flight 1549, will officially retire at a private ceremony at Charlotte Douglas International Airport accompanied by fellow USAPA pilots and other US Airways employees this afternoon. Captain Sullenberger will fly his last flight today with First Officer Jeff Skiles, his copilot during the skillful ditching in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009.

“Sully has always been a pilot’s pilot and a fine example of a professional aviator. He has also done a remarkable job of focusing the American public’s attention on the need for well-trained and experienced pilots at the controls of commercial aircraft,” said Mike Cleary, president of USAPA. “Sully’s final flight reminds us all that another veteran pilot is leaving the skies – and an experienced, well-trained pilot is the single most important component of safety on any aircraft. Congress, airline companies and the flying public should demand that the next generation of expert aviators have incentives to do the hard work to take the place of Sully and the many others nearing retirement age – and not to further tarnish this once-proud profession.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – January 15, 2010 – The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, today called on both candidates for the U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts to denounce the decision by US Airways to close its Boston crew base on May 2, 2010.

As USAPA has stated, it believes closing this base will have a detrimental impact on passengers, employees, New England taxpayers and the state’s economy due to the loss of hundreds of jobs and associated tax revenue.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – January 6, 2010 – The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, will picket today at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas to bring attention to US Airways’ announced closure of its Las Vegas crew base. USAPA believes closing this base will have a detrimental impact on passengers, employees, Las Vegas tourism and the Nevada economy due to the losses of hundreds of jobs, flights to and from Las Vegas and associated tax revenue.

US Airways has announced plans to reduce its daily flight schedule in Las Vegas to only 36 flights – 26 mainline and 10 Express – by February 1, 2010. This reduction means the loss of over 300 jobs at the airport and the transfer of another 150 plus pilot and mechanic jobs.

“We want to ensure that Las Vegas residents and visitors understand the impact this closure will have on their travel options, the local economy and their neighbors’ livelihoods,” said Captain Mike Cleary, president of USAPA. “They will face few direct flights and limited travel opportunities, especially to global destinations, along with reduced competition and higher fares. Many U.S. cities that once enjoyed non-stop service to Las Vegas will be left with fewer to no options by which to enjoy the city's many attractions. Furthermore, the loss of hundreds of local jobs will likely ripple through the already depressed housing market, causing higher unemployment and lost tax revenue.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – November 30, 2009 – The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) announced today that it is seeking a full investigation on the impact of a proposed slot, gate and facility transaction between US Airways (LCC) and Delta Airlines at New York’s LaGuardia and Washington’s Reagan National airports. In a letter to Christine Varney, assistant attorney general of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, USAPA stated that this transaction may have serious antitrust concerns.

“We are extremely concerned about the market concentration that this transaction would create if it is allowed to be consummated,” said USAPA President Mike Cleary. “Those conditions raise the prospect of much higher fares and, if history repeats itself, a reduction in service to smaller communities. It also places a great burden on many of US Airways’ New York-based employees whose jobs will be eliminated and will cause financial harm to the New York City and tri-state economy. With all that is at stake, the transaction warrants a thorough review of the consequences of a deal that creates this level of market domination.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – November 24, 2009 – The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, will picket today at the Massachusetts State House to bring to the attention of the public and lawmakers US Airways’ announced closure of its Boston crew base.

USAPA believes closing this base will have a detrimental impact on passengers, employees, New England taxpayers and the state’s economy due to the loss of hundreds of jobs and associated tax revenue. US Airways has announced plans to use crews and aircraft from other bases on flights departing Boston after the base closure. If aircraft do not arrive the night before, no reserve crew or aircraft will be available for departures the following day.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – November 13, 2009 – The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, applied today to the National Mediation Board (NMB) to request mediation of the currently single contract negotiations for all US Airways pilots. US Airways pilots work under two separate contracts, covering the pre-merger US Airways and former America West pilot groups.

The US Airways pilots entered contract negotiations with management in November 2005 under the terms of a Transition Agreement at the time of the US Airways and America West merger. In April, USAPA requested an NMB facilitator to assist the parties in reaching an agreement, but that proposal was rejected by US Airways.