ALPA Applauds Mesaba Airlines’ Announcement to Recall all Furloughed Pilots

The pilots of Mesaba Airlines, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, (ALPA) hailed the decision by Mesaba Airlines, Inc., a division of Pinnacle Airlines, Corp., to recall all furloughed pilots on March 3, 2011. The move is an indication of sustained growth within the airline, and positions Mesaba for continued excellence within Pinnacle Airlines, Corp.

With the March 3 announcement, all 159 pilots will be called back to the line at Mesaba to operate Saab aircraft out of the airline’s new LaGuardia, New York, hub. Training classes for recalled pilots will commence as soon as April 4 as a result of this announcement. These classes are anticipated to continue through the summer of 2011.

“We are happy to welcome all of our furloughed colleagues back to the line at Mesaba,” said Captain Mark Nagel, chairman of Mesaba’s branch of ALPA. “This is a sign of changing times. With the newly awarded flying out of LaGuardia for US Airways, an increase in the number of Saab 340 aircraft in our operation, and now the recall of all of our furloughed pilots, we feel this announcement positions us well for continued excellence and further growth within our newly merged airline.”

“The financial contributions Mesaba has made to the merged operation have already been outstanding, and the company has not yet realized all of the synergies,” said Captain Nagel. “This is a testament to the professional pilots we have at Mesaba Airlines. We feel Mesaba is in position to better enhance Pinnacle Airlines’ financial success in the future.”