13 Jan 2005
Today in Honolulu, Hawaii Hawaiian Airlines announced new contract agreements with two more of its unions - bringing to five the number of labor agreements reached in recent weeks that cover 89 percent of the company's unionized workforce.
Both of the latest agreements must be ratified by union members and would take effect once Hawaiian exits bankruptcy. They also will not take effect unless similar agreements are reached with all unions on the property.
Trustee Joshua Gotbaum called the new agreements pivotal to Hawaiian's successful exit from Chapter 11 reorganization. �Hawaiian has succeeded because of the efforts of all of its employees. We're pleased to have reached agreements that recognize those contributions as well as Hawaiian's competitive needs. I want to thank the AFA leadership for negotiating seriously and thoughtfully; we're very pleased to have an agreement that recognizes the many contributions of our flight attendants,� he said.
Gotbaum said negotiations with one remaining labor group, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), continue. �Since all of our other unions have now negotiated agreements they think are fair, we hope the pilots will, too,� he said.
Since last month, the company has reached similar agreements with the Clerical and the Mechanics units of the International Association of Machinists (IAM), which represents employees working in aircraft and facility maintenance, accounting, reservations, customer services and ramp services; and with the Transport Workers Union (TWU), which represents Hawaiian's dispatchers.
Hawaiian Airlines, the nation's number one on-time carrier, is recognized as one of the best airlines in America. Readers of two prominent national travel magazines, Cond� Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, have both rated Hawaiian as the top domestic airline serving Hawaii in their most recent rankings, and the fifth best domestic airline overall.
Celebrating its 76th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaii's biggest and longest-serving airline, and the second largest provider of passenger air service between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland.
Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more U.S. gateway cities than any other airline. Hawaiian also provides approximately 100 daily jet flights among the Hawaiian Islands, as well as service to Australia, American Samoa and Tahiti.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (AMEX and PCX: HA). Since the appointment of a bankruptcy trustee in May 2003, Hawaiian Holdings has had no responsibility for the management of Hawaiian Airlines and has had limited access to information concerning the airline.
Additional information is available at www.HawaiianAirlines.com.
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Media contact: Patrick Dugan Ph: +1 (808) 539-3411 pdugan@mcneilwilson.com