March 7, 2008

(Washington, D.C.) – “It’s shameful that the Federal Aviation Administration didn’t fine Southwest Airlines until its own inspectors got whistleblower status.

“The airline flew hundreds of planes that should have been grounded for maintenance and repair.

“FAA inspectors should be free do to their job, just as properly trained, properly certificated aircraft mechanics should be empowered to do theirs.

“FAA’s role is one of oversight and prevention. It’s a sign of how damaged the agency has become that it acts tough only after it’s caught letting Southwest (NYSE: LUV) get away with unsafe maintenance practices.

“FAA must maintain high safety standards in aviation and enforce them uniformly. Its mission is to prevent accidents and preempt malfeasance, rather than punishing retroactively and only in the face of scandal.  

“The Coalition for Legislative Aircraft Maintenance Outsourcing Reform (CLAMOR), and its members and allies, will keep fighting to fix this broken system. We also express gratitude to the FAA inspectors who every day try to protect the public against the hostility of their bosses.“ 

CLAMOR comprises the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Business Travel Coalition.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. There are 40,000 Teamsters airline employees, including more than 9,000 mechanics and related personnel at 11 airlines.