Seek Return On Their Investment In Airline's Success

Capt. Tom Donaldson, chairman of the Continental pilots' union, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Intl., has responded to Continental Airline's financial statement for the fourth quarter of 2007. The company reported Q4 pre-tax profits of $71M and $566M for the year.

"Continental pilots have worked hard and sacrificed, both financially and in their personal lives, to help ensure that our carrier is successful," states Capt. Donaldson, "It's time for the pilots to be repaid for the hundreds of millions of dollars in concessions we gave to the company. The loan on our futures is due."

He added, "As the company is making profits, we're working under a concessionary contract, spending amounts of time flying at lower pay rates, with more days away from our families. We simply want a fair return on the investment we made with our quality of life and that of our families to save the company."

The pilots' union, ALPA, and Continental management will begin negotiations on the economic sections of the pilots' contract in April, when they will address pay, work rules/quality of life issues, retirement and insurance benefits. The parties have been bargaining on non-economic issues since July 2007. The union is seeking to finish negotiations by the contract's amendable date, December 31, 2008.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world's largest pilot union representing more than 60,000 pilots at 42 airlines in the U.S. and Canada.

FMI: www.alpa.org/