Pilots Concerned With 'Risks' Associated With Sale

Capt. Chris Cashmareck, chairman of the ExpressJet pilots’ unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, reacted this week to the formal announcement of the intended sale of ExpressJet Airlines to SkyWest Holdings, Inc., with a subsequent merger of the airline with Atlantic Southeast Airlines.

Said Capt. Cashmareck, “Every transaction presents opportunities and risks. We need to review and evaluate the plan for the combined airline before we can commit to taking a position to support or oppose the sale/merger. What I can state unequivocally is that, just as airline mergers over the past few years have shown us, it will take pilot involvement and support to realize any true measure of success for this or any transaction.”

The pilots union for ExpressJet pilots sent a letter to ExpressJet Holdings management stating the fundamental requirements for support of a sale/merger. Among them are the following:

• the transaction must result in a profitable airline that provides long term stability and progressive career potential for our pilots;
• the transaction must fully honor the scope and successorship provision of our collective bargaining agreement;
• management must commit to negotiating a joint collective bargaining agreement with all involved parties that benefits all pilots; and
• there must be a fair and equitable seniority list integration.

ALPA represents more than 2,700 pilots at ExpressJet Airlines.

FMI: www.alpa.org