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Allied Pilots Association Issues Open Letter to American Airlines’ Passengers: “We Are Honored to Serve You”

Dépèche transmise le 26 janvier 2012 par Business Wire

Allied Pilots Association Issues Open Letter to American Airlines’ Passengers: “We Are Honored to Serve You”

FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, issued the following statement today as an open letter to the airline’s passengers:

“The 10,000 pilots of American Airlines want to thank everyone who has chosen to continue traveling aboard our airline as we go through bankruptcy restructuring. We appreciate your business and will continue doing all we can to earn it.”

“The 10,000 pilots of American Airlines want to thank everyone who has chosen to continue traveling aboard our airline as we go through bankruptcy restructuring. We appreciate your business and will continue doing all we can to earn it.

“We are committed to achieving a successful restructuring and understand that a financially healthy company is a prerequisite to enjoying full, rewarding careers. As pilots, we’re in a unique position to provide essential front-line leadership in American Airlines’ day-to-day operations, and we will play a vital role in the airline’s restructuring.

“This won’t be the first time we’ve persevered in tough times. In the days after the 9/11 attacks when air operations resumed, our pilots returned to their cockpits without any assurance that the emergency security measures the industry deployed would prevent additional attacks. Hundreds of our pilots returned to military service to combat terrorism. On the financial front, to help prevent a bankruptcy filing by American Airlines in 2003, our pilots overwhelmingly approved billions of dollars in contract concessions that remain in effect today.

“Along with financial reforms, American Airlines’ restructuring must also include a commitment by those who manage our company to cultivate a better corporate culture—a culture that values the crucial competitive edge that a fully engaged workforce provides. Whatever the industry, the best companies all have at least one element in common: highly motivated, enthusiastic employees who deliver exceptional service day after day. We stand ready to help create that same winning culture at American Airlines.

“Thank you again for choosing to fly American Airlines. We are honored to serve you.”

That is the full text of APA’s statement.

Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association—the largest independent pilot union in the United States—is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, including 649 pilots not yet offered recall from furlough. The furloughs began shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Also, several hundred American Airlines pilots are on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s Web site address is www.alliedpilots.org. American Airlines is the nation’s largest international passenger carrier and fifth-largest cargo carrier.