The Allied Pilots Association, (collective bargaining agent for the 13,500 pilots of American Airlines), has expressed support for 'fair and equitable reductions' in airline traffic at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in response to the FAA's Section 422 hearing about congestion at the airport.

"The Allied Pilots Association supports reductions in airline traffic at O'Hare provided that the reductions are fair and equitable," said Captain Ralph Hunter, APA President. "APA believes that a cooperative spirit and a system such as American Airlines' that produces greater opportunity and efficiency for more passengers traveling through Chicago should be rewarded, not penalized."

Hunter noted that American Airlines has fully cooperated with DOT and FAA efforts to reduce congestion at the airport and should not be penalized for "backfilling" of capacity by other carriers. (Backfilling refers to what some carriers have done by expanding into the slots vacated by American through voluntary cutbacks and by FAA order. Since February 2004, for example, United Airlines and its regional carriers have added 123 flights, while American has added only four.)

He further noted that the long-term solution to the overcrowding situation will come when new runways are constructed at O'Hare and urges the FAA to complete its environmental impact study so construction can begin.

"In the short term, we believe congestion could be relieved by limiting approval of new carriers into O'Hare and increasing use of feeder airports such as Midway Airport."

Captain Denis Breslin, Chairman of APA's Communications Committee, cited the proliferation of small-capacity regional jets as contributing to increased congestion. RJs now account for 41% of the traffic at O'Hare.

"It's important to preserve complementary commuter-type service through the hub-and-spoke system by carriers such as American -- carriers that have invested billions of dollars in O'Hare over the years," he said. "This type of service should take precedence over carriers that fly mainly point-to-point and over new-entrant carriers."

"American Airlines' current service levels are positive for Chicago and need to be preserved, not cut. They have innovatively attempted to make better use of Chicago O'Hare," said Michael Boyd, President of The Boyd Group/ASRC, Inc. "Forcing American Airlines to cut flights there will reduce employment and have a negative economic impact on Chicago."

Founded in 1963, APA is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

FMI: www.alliedpilots.org