FORT WORTH, Texas (Oct. 15, 2013) — The president of the Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, expressed strong support for the pilots at Republic Airways Holdings (NASDAQ: RJET).

"The pilots of Republic Airways have been trying to secure a fair contract since 2007, when their current agreement dating back to 2003 became amendable," said APA President Capt. Keith Wilson. "It shouldn't take six years — and counting — to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, especially when the current agreement is already 10 years old."

Under the Railway Labor Act governing airline labor negotiations, contracts do not expire but instead become amendable on an agreed-upon date.

"APA supports our brother and sister pilots at Republic in their efforts to bargain in good faith," Wilson said. "We will continue working in close cooperation to help ensure a prompt resolution to their protracted negotiations."

APA and Teamsters Local No. 357, the union representing the Republic pilots, are both members of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations.

In a vote conducted from Sept. 30 to Oct. 7, 97.5 percent of Republic pilots signaled "no confidence" in Republic Chief Operating Officer Wayne Heller and his senior management team. Previously, the Republic pilots voted overwhelmingly in favor of exercising their right to strike.

"The Republic pilots have shared with us their concerns about their management's efforts to operate larger equipment at substandard rates of pay," Wilson said. "The pilots' preference is for these aircraft to be operated by mainline carriers to prevent any further degradation of our profession.

"APA looks forward to continuing our efforts on behalf of Teamsters Local 357 Executive Board President Craig Moffatt, the negotiating team and the entire Republic pilot group," he said.

Along with improved pay and working conditions, the Republic pilots are seeking to address the high pilot attrition rate at the carrier and the impact of new Part 117 flight-time/duty-time regulations.