So we just got this letter from Buddy, just wanted to share:


March 26, 2008

Some of you may have heard about a story recently in the press about a dispute between Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. and ALPA relating to Colgan Air. Here are the actual facts. Pinnacle Airlines Corp. owns both Colgan Air, Inc. and Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. There is not and has never been a plan to combine the two carriers. ALPA’s contract is with Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. and not the holding company, Pinnacle Airlines Corp. However, ALPA filed a grievance arguing that since such a combination was “possible,” there had to be a fence agreement negotiated with the Company. Fence agreements, in the airline industry, describe how two airlines will be kept separate until there is an operational merger. Although Pinnacle disagreed with ALPA’s interpretation, the arbitrator granted ALPA’s grievance. This decision will have no impact on Colgan’s operation or on our Colgan Air Family members. All that is required, is for Pinnacle to meet with ALPA to negotiate an agreement that will have no impact since Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. and Colgan Air, Inc. will remain as separate carriers. Unfortunately, ALPA and the Pinnacle Airlines Pilots MEC remain focused on trying to hurt Colgan’sbusiness, as evidenced by their picketing our Q400 operations in Newark. Pinnacle pilots want the Q400 flying and ALPA has proposed a restriction on Colgan Air to operate no larger than 34 seat aircraft. That will not happen. Fortunately, our pilots saw through what ALPA and the Pinnacle Pilots were attempting to do when the election took place last summer. I can assure you there is no plan to ever merge these two airlines, and that ALPA’s efforts to favor the Pinnacle Pilots at the expense of Colgan’s pilots will not be successful. For our part, we have many challenges facing our industry today. With record fuel prices, an economic slow down and talk of a recession, all of us need to stay focused and operate to the best of our ability. Please do not listen to rumors or innuendo. Get the facts. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me or another member of our management team. Thank you for the hard work you do everyday.