US Airways Flight Attendants Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract

TEMPE, Ariz., Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- US Airways (NYSE: LCC) flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants – CWA (AFA), ratified a new contract today that provides immediate pay increases and includes support for the merger of US  Airways and American Airlines. The new contract opens four-party negotiations with American's flight attendant union and airline representatives, an initial step in reaching a combined collective bargaining agreement. Eighty percent of flight attendants voting approved the agreement, which covers the airline's 6,800 flight attendants who are based in US Airways' four hub cities of Phoenix, Philadelphia, Charlotte, N.C., and Washington, D.C.

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"We are very pleased that our flight attendants have ratified this new contract. I want to recognize our AFA leadership team at US Airways, especially Roger Holmin and Deborah Volpe, for their hard work and perseverance on behalf of US Airways' flight attendants," said Doug Parker, US Airways' chairman and CEO. "We would also like to express our appreciation to the National Mediation Board, Board Member Linda Puchala and Mediator Jim Mackenzie for their assistance in reaching this agreement."

Following ratification today, the new contract specifies negotiations to begin within thirty days between airline officials at US Airways and American Airlines, AFA and the union representing American Airlines flight attendants, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA). The talks would establish protocols for reaching a combined collective bargaining agreement once the merger of US Airways and American Airlines, announced on Feb. 14, is closed. The merger is expected to close by the third quarter of this year following regulatory agency and bankruptcy court approvals.

"This merger will create a stronger company, with the path to improved compensation and benefits and greater long-term opportunities for all our employees.  We are grateful to have the support of both companies' unions and thank them and their leaders for their hard work and vision. With today's ratification our flight attendants start the process to become one team and one great new airline," said Parker.

About US Airways

US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,000 flights per day and serves 198 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide, operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus aircraft and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 21,900 daily flights to 1,329 airports in 194 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance magazine presented US Airways with the 2012 Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of the Year Award for demonstrating outstanding achievement and innovation in the area of technical operations. Military Times Edge magazine named US Airways as a Best of Vets employer in 2011 and 2012. US Airways was, for the third year in a row, the only airline included as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine's 50 Report. The airline also earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index for six consecutive years. The Corporate Equality index is a leading indicator of companies' attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. For more company information visit usairways.com, follow on Twitter @USAirways or at Facebook.com/USAirways. (LCCG)

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SOURCE US Airways