October 23, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

Contact: NMB Public Information Line - (202) 692-5050

Re: ExpressJet and ALPA Reach First Contract on Flight Instructors

HOUSTON -- ExpressJet Airlines, Inc., doing business as Continental Express, and its flight instructors, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International, announced yesterday that they have reached a tentative contract agreement.

The tentative agreement, which marks the first labor contract for ExpressJet instructors, was accomplished with the assistance of the National Mediation Board and federal mediator Fred Leif, who facilitated the parties' interest-based bargaining approach to negotiations.

Instructors began negotiations with the company on May 14, 2001. While an agreement in principal was reached Sept. 8, the parties postponed announcement of the tentative agreement in light of the tragic events of Sept. 11.

Flight instructor negotiators Dennis Averill and Carl Kemper expressed satisfaction with the completion of the tentative agreement. Averill said, "We achieved our goal of addressing issues for instructors that needed immediate attention, as well as codifying a first contract that will serve as a "bridge" to more comprehensive negotiations next year." Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Jim Nides, Vice President of Operations at ExpressJet Airlines, said, "We worked hard to reach an agreement with our instructors by the target date we originally set. I was proud to work with Carl and Dennis to achieve a meaningful bridge to our pilot contract in such a short period of time."