US Airways pilots voted for change today and have elected the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) to replace the Airline Pilots Association, Intl. (ALPA), as their new bargaining agent. The results of the election were announced by The National Mediation Board today at 2:00 PM, EST. The new union will collectively represent over 5,000 mainline US Airways pilots from the merger of US Airways and America West Airlines.

“The US Airways pilots have spoken for a change in union representation,” said USAPA interim President, Captain Stephen Bradford. “USAPA is ready on day one to begin a new era for all US Airways pilots, East and West. We will join the other great independent airline pilot unions on the national front, while our pilots enjoy single carrier union representation, solely focused on our pilots needs and fully accountable only to them.”

“In addition to providing quality services to the US Airways pilots, USAPA will approach management in a more businesslike fashion to address the deficiencies of the collective US Airways pilots’ contracts, both East and West; contracts which were originally accepted by the pilots during the hardships placed on the airlines during the post 9/11 era,” said Captain Bradford.

The US Airways pilots are one of the most senior and experienced pilot groups in the United States. We fly a large fleet of jet aircraft, including the Boeing B-737-300/400 and B-757/767 series, the Airbus A319/320/321 series, and the 266-seat Airbus A330.

US Airways pilots fly their passengers safely to more than 180 destinations, including Europe, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii and in the near future, China.

USAPA represents over 5,000 US Airways pilots in seven domiciles across the United States.

Read more about the new union on their Website: http://1.usairlinepilots.org/default_nopop.htm