Oneworld Cockpit Crew Coalition Voices Strong Support for Allied Pilots Association: "Our Interests as Professional Pilots Are the Same"

Business Wire, July 9, 2008

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The Oneworld Cockpit Crew Coalition (OCCC), comprised of the pilot unions whose members fly for the oneworld Alliance carriers, expressed strong support for the Allied Pilots Association (APA) in that union's contract negotiations with American Airlines (NYSE: AMR) management.

Leaders of the OCCC member unions gathered today at APA's Fort Worth, Texas headquarters for a regularly scheduled meeting to discuss issues of common concern.

"We stand foursquare behind APA's efforts to secure suitable wages and working conditions for its pilots," said Captain Dave Smith, chairman of the British Airways Company Council, British Air Line Pilots Association. "APA has been supportive of BALPA in our disputes with our airline's management and in turn we will do all we can to help our American colleagues."

"Our respective pilot groups have long enjoyed a mutually beneficial working relationship," said Captain Evan Cullen, president of the Irish Air Line Pilots Association. "We look forward to continued collaboration under the OCCC umbrella to bolster the airline pilot profession worldwide."

"While our language and culture may differ, our interests as professional pilots are the same no matter where we live," said Captain Yuzo Iida, member of the Japan Airlines Captain Association Executive Committee. "We plan to remain in close contact with the APA leadership as their negotiations proceed and to provide whatever assistance is appropriate."

The OCCC member unions include Australian & International Pilots Association (Qantas); Allied Pilots Association (American Airlines); Asociacion Sindical de Pilotos Aviadores de Mexico (Mexicana); British Air Line Pilots Association (British Airways); Japan Airlines Captain Association, Japan Airlines Senior Engineer Union and Japan Airlines Flightcrew Union (Japan Airlines); Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (Cathay Pacific Airways); Hugarian Airline Pilots' Association (Malev); Irish Air Line Pilots Association (Aer Lingus); Sindicato Espanol de Pilotos de Lineas (Iberia); Finnish Air Line Pilots' Association (Finnair); Sindicato de Pilotos LAN / LAN Pilot's Union (LAN Airlines); and Sindicato de Pilotos LANExpress (LAN Express). In all, the OCCC member unions represent a total of more than 28,000 pilots.