CHARLOTTE, N.C. – (Business Wire) The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, unequivocally opposes immunity from antitrust laws for U.S. corporations that threatens U.S. workers and proves detrimental to consumer interests. In particular, the association supports the Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents the 11,500 pilots of American Airlines, in its request that the Department of Transportation (DOT) decline American Airlines’ application for worldwide antitrust immunity with British Airways and Iberia.
“USAPA has serious concerns on many levels concerning immunity from antitrust laws, but since American Airlines refuses to offer their pilots even standard industry protections, it is clear that jobs are a target,” said USAPA President Mike Cleary. “Simply stated, providing immunity from antitrust laws to airlines has cost U.S. jobs and has come at a cost to worldwide consumer interests. Antitrust immunity has the potential to whipsaw one airline employee group against the other, seeking a race to the bottom that has caused the loss of countless jobs and has created safety concerns that we have witnessed in other parts of the U.S. airline industry.”
“It is also very telling that the European Commission is investigating both the Star Alliance, of which US Airways is a member, and the oneworld alliance, of which American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia are members, for possible illegal conduct,” noted Cleary. “Even more compelling is that this month the EC announced that American Airlines’ plans may violate rules governing restrictive business practices.”
“The pilots at US Airways witnessed the effects of international airline arrangements when Airborne Express pilots, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, lost thousands of jobs after German-owned DHL took over Airborne Express and shifted much of the flying to DHL,” said Cleary. “On the horizon, USAPA sees yet another potential raid of the lucrative U.S. airline market as United Airlines and AerLingus seek business arrangements that can have catastrophic effects to U.S. aviation workers. We understand that U.S. policy that keeps American workers employed is good policy for the entire country and that such a smoke screen – collaborative efforts to seek bottom-dollar employees – is in the interest of a select few. We strongly urge the Department of Transportation to decline American Airlines’ request for antitrust immunity, which would result in a virtual merger with British Airways.”
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) represents more than 5,000 US Airways pilots in seven domiciles across the United States.
US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA)
Captain James Ray, 704-936-4500
