FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Captain Tom Hoban
817-302-2350/817-937-4796
Gregg Overman
817-302-2250/817-312-3901

ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION: HOUSE AMENDMENT REJECTING FLAG-OF-CONVENIENCE "AFFIRMS IMPORTANCE OF FAIR COMPETITION"

FORT WORTH, Texas (June 11, 2014) — Allied Pilots Association President Capt. Keith Wilson issued a statement applauding the House's inclusion of the Westmoreland-DeFazio Amendment in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act (H.R. 4745). APA serves as the certified collective bargaining agent for the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines.

The full text of Capt. Wilson's statement:

"We applaud House lawmakers for voting in favor of the Westmoreland-DeFazio Amendment, which rejects the flag-of-convenience scheme represented by Norwegian Air International. The House vote affirms the importance of fair competition and a level playing field in the airline industry.

"As the U.S. Department of Transportation considers Norwegian Air International's application to expand transatlantic service into the United States, we likewise urge regulators to recognize the application for what it is: a convoluted effort to undercut the competition by scouring the globe for cheap labor. There's no other rational explanation for creating an Irish subsidiary that won't serve Ireland and hires most of its crews in Thailand through a Singapore-based recruitment firm.

"Once again, we express our appreciation to House lawmakers and call on the DOT to do the right thing by denying Norwegian Air International's application as an affront to fair competition."

Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association — the largest independent pilots union in the United States — is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union's website is www.alliedpilots.org. American Airlines is the world's largest passenger airline.