WLDAE World Air Holdings (MM)

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- World Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:WLDAE), announced today that contract talks are continuing between the company and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) negotiating team that represents World's pilots. Negotiations resumed Monday under the auspices of the National Mediation Board, which had declared a 30-day cooling-off period beginning Dec. 28, 2005 after both sides requested to be released from mediation. "The company is committed to reaching a fair and equitable agreement," said Charlie McDonald, World Airways chief operating officer. McDonald, the company's senior-most officer, is joining World's negotiating team in Washington, D.C., today to help facilitate the talks. "We have offered annual pay increases, profit sharing, job security proposals, benefit improvements and work-rule improvements, in addition to a signing bonus, and we are making every effort to come to an agreement before the cooling-off period expires at midnight Friday," McDonald said. World Airways has 430 pilots operating wide-body passenger and cargo aircraft for its U.S. military and commercial customers. The current contract states that the pilots will not interrupt flights for World's largest customer, the U.S. military, even in the event of a strike. World Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc., is a U.S.-certificated air carrier providing customized transportation services for major international passenger and cargo carriers, the United States military, major freight forwarders and international leisure tour operators. Founded in 1948, World operates a fleet of 17 wide-body aircraft to meet the specialized needs of its customers. For information, visit http://www.worldairways.com/. ["Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the impact of competition in the market for air transportation services, the cyclical nature of the air carrier business, reliance on key marketing relationships, fluctuations in operating results and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's periodic reports filed with the SEC (reports are available from the company upon request). These various risks and uncertainties may cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of the forward looking statements made by, or on behalf of the company in this release.] First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact: DATASOURCE: World Air Holdings, Inc. CONTACT: Media, Steve Forsyth, +1-770-632-8322; or Investors, Janice Kuntz, +1-404-352-2841, both of World Air Holdings, Inc. Web site: http://www.worldairways.com/

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