Press Release

Gate Gourmet London Employees Approve Deal

London, October 6, 2005 - Gate Gourmet London (Heathrow) is pleased to announce that the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) today has officially confirmed to the company that its members have approved the company's restructuring plan.

Eric Born, Managing Director Gate Gourmet UK & Ireland, said: "We are very pleased with the result, and that the union has finally got its membership to vote for the proposal."

Following the resolution of the dispute and the successful ratification by the union members, the remaining piece of the London unit's turnaround program is for British Airways to sign the new commercial terms as agreed on Aug. 23.

The speed at which Gate Gourmet can consider any re-engagement of some of the dismissed workers who participated in the illegal wildcat strike on Aug. 10 depends on how quickly the union can convince its members to sign the necessary compromise agreements. It would have been unnecessary for compromise agreements to be signed if the union had not supported the illegal wildcat action.

Founded in 1992, Gate Gourmet is the world's largest independent airline catering, hospitality and logistics company with dual headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and Reston, VA, USA. The company has substantially expanded its products and services recently through acquisitions and strategic investments. The portfolio now includes cabin service ware (deSter); comfort/entertainment items (Harmony); packaged food components assembled in central production units (Supplair); design and delivery of brand-linked customer environments (Performa); service staff recruitment and training and crew leasing (Elan); aviation services such as cabin cleaning, aircraft washing and deicing and passenger services (Fernley/IAS); catering security (Gate Safe); business applications (eGate Solutions); and supply chain optimization (partnership with Pourshins).