February 14, 2013

Dear Flying Partners:

We are writing to you from Dallas where we are joining leaders of each of the unions representing workers from both US Airways and American Airlines. Last night this merger was approved by the Boards of each airline and US Airways and AMR have officially entered into an agreement to merge. This represents a new opportunity for all of us.

By securing the 2013 Tentative Agreement, we will have an active role in building our new airline, charting the course for our future and the ability to ensure our interests are a part of the process from the very beginning. While there is much work to be done, this is an exciting time for all Flight Attendants. The strength that comes with being a part of shaping one of the world’s largest airline networks must start with the relationships we have built with each other. We are one and together we are stronger.

Rest assured, nothing changes immediately with this announcement. American Airlines must work through the final steps of bankruptcy as it seeks approval on its plan of reorganization and the airlines will seek the necessary approval from the Department of Justice. And while this process unfolds we are voting right now to secure the strongest job protections in the industry for all US Airways Flight Attendants along with meaningful economic improvements. This provides us a solid foundation for negotiating additional improvements in this merger. In just two weeks, through your vote, we can obtain what we need to not only protect us in this merger, but to allow us to move forward with opportunities many of us may not have imagined when we started our flying career.

What is different today is that we know what our future holds and we have the opportunity to make the most out of it. Tune in to our webcast on ourafa.org at Noon Eastern Time today. We encourage you to vote FOR the 2013 Tentative Agreement by Thursday, February 28 at Noon Eastern Time. This is only the beginning. Our unity will lead us to our success.

In solidarity,